IRLF 


207 


J*  •# 


CASE 

B 


THE 


OF 


JOSEPH     STANSBURY 

•J  \\ 


AND 


DOCTOR  JONATHAN  ODELL; 


RELATING  TO  THE 


AMERICAN    RESOLUTION. 


NOW  FIRST  EDITED 


BvWINTHRQP     SARGENT, 


ALBANY: 

J.    MUNSELL,    78    STATE    STREET. 
1860. 


lecteuvs,  quf  ce  liure  Use?, 
Jiespouille?  bous  tie  toute  affection; 
3Bt  le  lisant  ne  \)ou»  scantiaKsej. 
Kl  ne  conttent  ntal  ne  infection. 
Vvag  est  qu'i'co  peu  lie  perfection 
17ous  apprentire?  


P  R  E  FA  C  E. 


HE  collection  and  prefervation  of  the 
ancient  Songs  of  a  Nation  has  long 
been    efteemed  a  worthy   occupation. 
In  other  lands  than  this,  thefe  refearches,  it 
is  true,    go  back  to   days  of  chivalry   and 
are  rewarded  by  the  acquifition  of 

What  rejbunds, 

In  fable  or  romance,  of  Uther's  Jon 
Begirt  with  Britijh  or  Armoric  knights. 

In  our  own  country,  the  range  of  inquiry  is  more 
limited.  We  have  no  fuch  legendary  treafures  to  draw 
upon.  The  invention  of  printing — the  ufe  of  gun 
powder — the  extenfion  of  navigation — all  the  difcoveries 
that  moulded  the  form  and  character  of  modern  times, 
and  feparate  us  from  paft  ages,  preceded  the  European 
fettlements  in  America,  and  fhut  out  from  our  foil  the 
B  growth 


x  Preface. 

growth  of  any  fchool  of  fiction  akin  to  thofe  that  had 
flourished  on  the  other  continent.  Thfe  Golden  Legends 
of  the  monks  ;  the  romances  of  knight-errantry  ;  the 
fatirical  Sirventes  of  the  troubadours — found  no  fuc- 
ceflbrs  here.  And  while  various  circumftances  hindered 
the  new  comers  from  bequeathing  to  this  the  local 
literatures  of  their  own  lands,  other  caufes  operated 
with  equal  force  to  prevent  the  early  developement  of 
anything  like  a  national  department  of  our  own.  Such 
tales  and  legends  of  thofe  days  as  have  come  down  to 
us  are  now  as  valuable  for  their  rarity  as  for  their 
nature.  Obfcure  and  remote,  the  Colonies  for  a  long 
while  fcarcely  claimed  among  themfelves,  and  certainly 
did  not  obtain  from  Europe,  the  {lighted  confideration 
on  the  fcore  of  mental  excellence  or  cultivation.  So 
eflentially  were  they  in  the  made,  that  it  is  told  as  a 
probable,  if  not  a  true  ftory,  that  Cromwell  would  fain 
have  fought  refuge  here,  as  in  an  impenetrable  covert, 
from  the  wrath  of  the  Court ;  and  if  his  efcape  from 
the  Thames  was  obstructed  by  the  officers  of  Charles, 
it  was  in  all  likelihood  becaufe  they  conceived  him 
about  to  fly  into  regions  where  it  would  be  difficult  to 
purfue  and  impoffible  to  detect  him.  And  many  years 
later,  when  pious  men  from  Virginia  befought  official 
favour  in  England  to  their  fcheme  of  eftablifhing  a 
College  in  that  Colony,  fo  flight  was  the  efteem  in 
which  American  intelligence  was  held  that  the  Attorney- 
General 


Preface.  xi 

General  flared  in  utter  amazement  at  the  proportion. 
"Why,  what  in  Heaven's  name,"  he  exclaimed,  "  do 
<c  you  want  with  a  College  in  Virginia  ?"  cc  To  im- 
<c  prove  the  minds  and  the  fouls  of  the  youth  of  the 
<c  province,"  was  the  humble  reply.  cc  Souls  !"  cried 
the  law-dignitary,  aghaft  at  fuch  prefumption — "Souls! 
"  D —  your  fouls  !  make  tobacco  !" 

Thus  it  happens  that  we  find  very  little  of  local 
fiction  in  any  of  its  ordinary  forms,  among  our  ancient 
American  literature.  The  Revolutionary  War,  how 
ever,  which  gave  this  country  a  feat  in  the  circle  of 
empires,  was  fucceeded  by  an  unlocked  for  and  won 
derful  profperity,  that  foon  raifed  it  to  greatnefs.  And 
as  this  conteft — the  moft  important  epoch  in  our  na 
tional  hiftory — was  not  at  all  deficient  in  thofe  political 
verfes  that  naturally  find  their  feat  upon  the  lips  of 
men  engaged  in  a  long  and  impaffioned  ftrife,  it  does 
not  ill  become  us,  who  today  enjoy  the  fruit  of  the 
arduous  toils  of  the  founders  of  our  State,  to  regard 
with  an  attentive  eye  every  monument  that  remains  of 
the  characteriftics  of  their  nature.  Nor  mould  the  de- 
fire  to  retrieve,  fo  far  as  may  be,  every  detail  of  the 
men  and  manners  of  that  period,  be  dealt  with  as  an 
idle  inquifitivenefs,  or  ranked  with  that  fpirit  which,  as 
Sir  Thomas  Browne  relates,  would  feek  to  know  what 
fong  the  Syrens  fang,  or  by  what  name  Achilles  was 
known  among  the  women. 

if 


xii  Preface. 

If  then  we  cannot  prefent  the  lays  of  minftrels,  who 

• 

In  Jage  and  jblemn  tunes  have  Jung 
Of  turneys  and  of  trophies  hung  ; 
Of  forejls,  and  enchantments  drear, 
Where  more  is  meant  than  meets  the  e'ar ; 

we  can  at  leaft  eflay  towards  recovering  the  party  lyrics 
with  which  the  contending  ranks  of  our  great  civil  war 
folaced  their  friends  or  provoked  their  foes  :  and  if 
there  be  any  truth  in  the  proportion  of  Fletcher  of 
Saltoun,  that  the  fongs  of  a  people  control  its  action 
not  lefs  than  its  laws,  the  production  would  be  juftified 
of  every  ftrain  that  can  be  fhown  to  have  been  born 
out  of  the  popular  troubles  of  that  day.  There  is  a 
clafs  of  ftudents  who  would  gladly  hear  all  that  can  be 
told  of  every  thing  which  went  to  form  the  character 
and  the  habits  of  the  actors  in  the  memorable  fcene  : 
to  whom  no  fact,  however  fmall,  that  relates  to  the 
grand  event  of  the  Revolution,  is  deftitute  of  intereft: 
and  to  whofe  eyes  the  words  of  the  Old  Turcutn  fong, 
that  cheered  the  American  camp-fires  in  the  fwamps  of 
Carolina  fourfcore  years  bygone,  would  be  not  lefs 
precious  today  than  the  prefence  of  the  finger  himfelf 
would  have  been  to  Tarleton  while  the  Britifh  ftandard 
yet  waved  in  Charleston  ;  and  thefe  readers,  at  leaft, 
will  not  regard  as  altogether  idle  fuch  collections  as 
that  here  prefented. 

In 


Preface.  xiii 

In  gathering  up  the  poetry  of  the  Revolution,  a 
peculiar  intereft  naturally  attaches  itfelf  to  the  produc 
tions  of  the  vanquifhed  party.  Of  the  fayings  and 
doings  of  our  own  fide,  we  may  be  prefumed  to  poflefs 
at  leaft  a  certain  degree  of  information  :  but  of  the 
Tory  or  Loyal  party,  the  general  reader  can  hardly  fay 
more  than  that  it  was  numerous,  brave,  and  intelligent ; 
and  that  when  it  was  fwept  away  from  the  face  of  the 
land,  its  members  feem  to  have  vanifhed  from  the  public 
obfervation  in  the  fame  moment  with  the  caufe  which 
they  had  fuftained.  Like  Cardinal  Beaufort  in  the 
play,  it  died,  and  made  no  fign.  The  reader  may,  as 
he  choofes,  continue  with  Warwick,  that  fo  bad  a  death 
argued  a  monftrous  life,  or  with  the  gentle  king,  lean 
to  a  milder  judgment  of  the  men  who  fupported  the 
caufe  of  the  crown.  The  queftion  is  of  no  moment 
here  ;  and  it  is  of  as  little  importance  to  determine 
whether  their  literary  effufions  were  poflerTed  of  any 
extraordinary  merit.  Their  connection  with  the  hiftory 
of  the  times  gives  them  value.  The  Englifhman's 
boaft,  that  he  had  fung  the  laft  Stuart  out  of  three 
kingdoms  lofes  none  of  its  point  becaufe  the  verfes 
themfelves  have  but  little,  and  every  modern  reader 
would  refent  the  withdrawal  from  its  appropriate  place 
of  the  fcurvy  doggrel  of  Lillibullero  as  warmly  as  could 
have 'been  done  by  My  Uncle  Toby  himfelf,  whofe 
favorite  refource  in  time  of  trouble,  was,  it  will  be 

recollected, 


xiv  Preface. 

recollected,  the  whittling  of  that  Williamite  air.  It  is 
their  political  rather  than  their  lyrical  merit  that  has 
caufed  this  collection  of  revolutionary  verfes :  and 
although,  in  the  Editor's  opinion,  they  are  wanting 
in  neither  the  one  qualification  nor  the  other,  yet  it 
may  be  as  well  on  the  latter  fcore  to  premife  that  the 
reader  muft  not  look  to  dealing  with  them  fimply 
according  to  their  poetical  defert.  "Ufe  every  man 
cc  after  his  defert,"  fays  Hamlet,  "  and  who  mould 
cc  'fcape  whipping  ?  Ufe  them  after  your  own  honour 
"  and  dignity  :  the  lefs  they  deferve,  the  more  merit 
cc  is  in  your  bounty.  Take  them  in." 

But  notwithfhanding  all  that  has  been  advanced,  it 
may  ftill  be  doubted  whether  it  was  worth  while  to 
difturb  the  repofe  of  the  pieces  here  printed.  The 
Editor's  intereft  in  a  favorite  line  of  refearch  perhaps 
difqualified  him  for  an  unbiafled  decifion  :  and  an  ap 
peal  to  the  judgments  of  friends  was  about  as  profitable 
as  that  of  John  Bunyan  in  a  like  ftrait ; 

Some  faid,  John,  print  it  :   others  faid,  not  Jo. 
Some  Jaid  it  may  be  good.      Others  faid  No. 

Accordingly,  as  is  not  unufual  in  fuch  contingencies, 
he  has  followed  the  counfel  that  agreed  befl  with  his 
own  inclinations:  fatiffied  that  the  limited  imprefTion 
of  this  book  will  at  leaft  prevent  any  very  widefpread 
diflatiffaction  refulting  from  his  proceedings. 

In 


Preface.  xv 

In  its  preparation  for  the  prefs,  the  Editor  has  been 
governed  by  the  fame  rules  that  controlled  the  appear 
ance  of  The  Loyalifl  Poetry  of  the  Revolution.  The 
Notes  are  made  purely  with  an  intent  to  explain  the 
author's  meaning.  To  maintain  or  to  impugn  the 
fentiments  expreffed  has  been  far  from  his  plan.  What 
incompletenefs  appears  in  the  Notes  is  as  much  to  be 
regretted  by  himfelf  as  by  any  other ;  their  hafty  pre 
paration  under  circumftances  that  left  him  accefs  to  no 
other  authorities  than  what  his  own  fhelves  provided, 
may  be  fuggefted  rather  by  way  of  explanation,  than 
to  juftify  any  deficiency.  In  the  felection  of  the  matter 
for  the  text  of  this  work,  however,  it  has  been  thought 
well  to  join  together  the  names  and  the  remaining 
compofitions  of  Doctor  Odell  and  Mr.  Stanfbury,  who 
were  undoubtedly  the  two  moft  important  loyal  veri 
fiers  of  the  time.  A  concurrence  of  fortunate  circum 
ftances  gave  the  Editor  accefs  to  what  may  be  reafonably 
believed  a  complete  collection  of  all  that  remains  of 
their  writings.  Many  of  thefe  were  unpublifhed ; 
many  in  the  original  manufcript ;  and  narrowed  as  their 
lift  had  already  become  under  the  hand  of  Time,  there 
was  every  reafon  to  fuppofe  they  would  continue  to 
fuffer  a  yearly  diminution.  What  eftimate  may  have 
been  placed  on  them  by  the  oppofing  parties  of  the 
period  in  which  they  had  birth,  has  not  weighed  at  all 
to  admit  or  exclude  them  from  this  collection  ;  nor 

have 


xvi  Preface. 

have  the  opinions  their  language  conveys  been  regarded. 
When  party  heats  run  high,  party  judgments  are  of 
little  worth.  cc  Wit  and  fool,"  fays  Dryden,  are  con- 
fequents  of  Whig  and  Tory  ;  and  every  man  is  a  knave 
or  an  afs  to  the  contrary  fide.  This  arrangement  in 
deed  falls  more  feverely  on  the  authors  themfelves  than 
upon  any  others :  for  it  cannot  be  denied  that  their 
productions,  as  here  given,  are  of  very  unequal  merit 
and  comprife  much  that,  in  all  probability,  they  them 
felves  would  on  occafion  have  excluded.  But  the  fault 
refts  here  with  that  Chance  which,  being  no  refpecter 
of  merit,  has  preferved  indifferently  a  meagre  aflbrt- 
ment,  in  point  of  quantity,  of  the  numerous  writings 
of  our  poets,  and  in  fo  doing  has  condemned  their  befl 
and  their  wbrft  efforts  to  a  fort  of  Mezentian  union  : 
Mortua  jungebat  corpora  vivis.  All  that  remains  for 
the  Editor  under  thefe  circumftances  is  to  fet  in  meet 
order  and  array  the  materials  that  he  finds  before 
him.  Like  Rob  Roy,  if  they  be  cower  bad  for  Wetting, 
they  are  ower  gude  for  banning:'  and  the  moft  care- 
leflly  arranged  line  may  perhaps  be  found  to  illuftrate 
fome  negledted  point  of  hiftory. 

Efpecial  acknowledgments  are  due  to  Mrs.  Charles 
Lee,  of  Frederickton,  N.  B.,  and  to  Mr.  J.  Francis 
Fifher  and  Mr.  Charles  M.  Morris  of  Philadelphia, 
for  their  contributions  to  the  text  of  this  volume.  The 
Editor  would  alfo  remark  here  that  from  it  he  has 

omitted 


Preface.  xvii 

omitted  two  poems  by  Doctor  Odell :  The  American 
Times,  and  The  Ward  of  Congrejs — which  are  already 
edited  in  The  Loyalift  Poetry.  To  the  critical  reader, 
who  may  object  to  the  occafianal  omiffion  of  a  phrafe 
allowable  enough  in  the  laft  century,  but  too  coarfe  for 
the  more  delicate  palate  of  this,  he  would  urge  that  in 
every  fuch  cafe  a  dam  has  been  fubftituted  for  the  dif- 
carded  word ;  fo,  in  the  language  of  Peter  Pindar, 


-—Let  thy  impudence  Jupply  the  rhyme  ! 


Glqfter  Place,  Miffijfippi, 
January  loth,  1860. 


W.  S, 


CONTENTS. 


A  Song,  -     i 

On  the  Prefent  Troubles,-  -       3 

When  good  Queen  Elizabeth  governed  the  Realm,  4 

Inscription  for  Franklin's  Stove,       -  5 

Epigram,  -                           -     6 

Birthday  Ode,       -                    -  7 

Song  for  a  Fifhing  Party,  -  -       -     9 

A  Welcome  to  Howe,  -  10 

A  Birthday  Song,     -  -  1 1 

Tradesmen's  Song,  .          -       13 

The  Fourth  of  July,  -  14 

A  New  Song,       -  -       16 
The  Petition  of  Philadelphia  to  Sir  William  Howe,          17 

Epigram,  -   19 

The  Kitten  Song,  *       -  -       20 

Verjes  to  the  Tories,  -  22 

The  Carpet  Knight,     -  23 

A  Fable,  -  25 


xx  Table  of  Contents. 

On  the  Downfall  of  Legal  Paper  Money,     -  -        -  29 

Ode  for  the  Year  1778,  -       31 

A  Pajloral  Song,       -  -  33 

A  Song  for  the  Times,  -  34 

To  Sir  James  Wallace,     -  -  35 

The  Church-and-King  Club,  -       36 

Church  and  King,     -                                        "  ~  37 

To  Peace,     -  -38 

The  Town  Meeting,  -       -  39 

The  Congratulation,      -  -      45 

The  Feu  de  Joie,       -                                       »  -       -  51 

Ode  for  the  New  Year,           -         -          -         -  58 

The  Lords  of  the  Main,     -  -  61 

Liberty,       •"."•*•  63 

Freedom,                                       ...  .64 

On  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  •       66 

A  Pasquinade,  •.  67 
A  Poetical  Epijlle,       ---*.,.        69 

Invitation,       «•                             -         -         _  _         _  yj 

Ode  for  the  St.  George's  Society  at  New  York,  -       74 

A  Song  for  St.  George's  Day,  1781,  -76 

On  the  Revival  of  the  Church-and-King  Club,  -       -  78 

Song  for  a  Venijbn  Dinner,     -  "79 

The  Royal  Oak, 81 

Woodlands,          -         -         -         *         -         -  83 


Table  of  Contents.  xxi 

A  Chrijtmas  Song  for  1782,       -  -  84 

Let  us  be  happy  as  long  as  we  can,  86 

God  Save  the  King,  -  88 

The  United  States,       -  89 

Cordelia,                    -         -         -         -  -         -         -90 

Notes,                  -  -                          93 

Index, -         --189 


THE 


LOYAL     VERSES 


OF 


STANSBURY    AND    ODELL 


THE 


LOYAL    VERSES 


O  F 


STANSBURY     AND     ODELL 


A  SONG, 

SUNG  AT  THE     SECOND     ANNIVERSARY     MEETING     OF  THE 
SONS' OF  ST.  GEORGE  IN  NEW  YORK,  APRIL  23,    IJJl. 

TUNE  :   Black  Sloven. 
[From  Jofeph  Stanjbury's  Original  MSS.1] 

E  Sons  of  St.  George,  here  affembled  today, 
So  honeft  and  hearty,  fo  Chearful  and  Gay, 
Come  join  in  the  Chorus,  and  loyally  iing 
In  praife  of  your  Patron,  Your  Country  and  King. 

Tho'plac'd  at  a  diftance  from   Britain's  bold  Shore, 
From  thence  either  We  or  our  Fathers  came  o'er : 
And  in  Will,  Word  and  Deed,  We  are  Englifhmen  all; 
Still  true  to  her  Caufe  and  awake  to  her  Call. 

Let 


2  The  Loyal  Ferfes 

Let  Crefly,  Poidiers,  and  let  Agincourt  ftiow 
How  our  Anceftors  afted  fome  Ages  ago  : 
While  Minden's  red  Field  and  Quebec  mall  proclaim 
That  their  Sons  are  unchanged  or  in  Nature  or  Name, 

Should  the  proud  Spanifh  Dons  but  appear  on  the  Main, 
The  Ifland  they  pilfer' d,  by  Force  to  maintain, 
The  brave  Sons  of  Thunder  our  Wrongs  will  redrefs, 
And  teach  them  again  what  they  learn'd  of  Queen  Befs, 

Tho'  the  proiad  Roman  Eagle  to  Britain  was  borne, 
Both  Talons  and  Feathers  got  plaguily  torn  ; 
And  C^fe'Wmielf,  both  with  Foot  and  with  Horfe, 
Was  glad  to  fneak  off  with —  "It's  well  'twas  no  worfe," 

Tho'  party  Contentions  awhile  may  run  high, 
When  Danger  advances  they'll  vanifh  and  die ; 
While  all  with  one  Heart,  Hand  and  Spirit  unite, 
Like  Englimmen  think  and  like  Englishmen  fight. 

Then  here's  to  our  King,  and  Oh,  Long  may  He  reign — • 
The  Lord  of  thofe  Men  who  are  Lords  of  the  Main  ! 
While  all  the  Contention  among  us  mail  be 
To  make  Him  as  happy  as  We  are  made  free. 

And  here's  to  the  Daughters  of  Britain's  Fair  Ifle — 
May  Freedom  and  They  ever  crown  with  a  Smile 
The  Sons  o$St.  George,  our  good  Knight  fo  profound — 
The  Sons  of  St.  George,  even  all  the  World  round  ! 

ON 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell. 


ON  THE  PRESENT  TROUBLES. 

[Thefe  Lines  from  the  Stanjbury  Manuscripts,  have  an  inter- 
ejl  as  Jhowing  how  Jbme  even  among  thoje  who,  when  War  aclu- 
ally  broke  out,  were  unflinching  in  their  Loyalty  to  the  Crown, 
were  at  an  earlier  date  dijgujled  with  the  minijlerial  plans  for 
America.  The  author's  confidence  in  the  overwhelming  Power 
of  England  is  curioujly  enough  contra/ted  with  his  ajjertion  of 
Colonial  Innocence.2] 

ON  cryftal  throne,  uplifted  high. 
Imperial  Britain  fate ; 
Her  lofty  forehead  reach' d  the  iky  ; 

Her  awful  nod  was  fate : 
Terrific  Mars,  with  War's  alarms 

Augments  the  pageant  mew ; 
And  fea-green  Neptune's  circling  arms 
Forbid  th'  invading  foe. 

Bright  Science  made  her  Name  ador'd. 

Her  robes  the  Arts  empearl'd. 
Wide  in  her  Lap  fair  Commerce  poured 

The  Riches  of  the  World. 
Her  Cheeks  the  Rofe  in  hafte  forfook, 

By  jealous  Fears  purfued  : 
Her  Voice  the  Earth's  firm  Bafement  fhook, 

And  turn'd  the  Air  to  Blood. 

Her  Vengeance  o'er  the  liquid  Wave 

Explores  thefe  weftern  Climes  : 
Juft  Heav'n  !   a  People  deign  to  fave 
Whofe  wrongs  are  all  their  Crimes  ! 
Cetera  dejunt. 

WHEN 


The  Loyal  Verfes 


WHEN  GOOD  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 
GOVERNED  THE  REALM. 

&  Song, 
TUNE  :    Hearts  of  Oak. 

[From   the   Stanfbury   Manuscripts  ;  and   probably  compojed 
for  a  meeting  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George  in  1774  or  1775.] 

WHEN    good    Queen    Elizabeth    governed    the 
Realm, 

And  Burleigh's  fage  Counfels  directed  the  Helm, 
In  vain  Spain  and  France  our  Conquefts  oppof'd ; 
For  Valour  conducted  what  Wifdom  propof  'd. 

Beef  and  Beer  was  their  Food ; 

Love  and  Truth  arm'd  their  Band ; 

Their  Courage  was  ready— — 

Steady,  Boys,  Steady — 
To  fight  and  to  conquer  by  Sea  and  by  Land. 

But  iince  Tea  and  Coffee,  fo  much  to  our  Grief, 
Have  taken  the  place  of  Strong  Beer  and  Roaft  Beef> 
Our  Laurels  have  wither' d,  our  Trophies  been  torn ; 
And  the  Lions  of  England  French  triumphs  adorn. 
Tea  and  flops  are  their  food  ; 
They  unnerve  every  Hand-^— 
Their  Courage  unfteady 
And  not  always  ready — • 
They  often  are  conquer'd  by  Sea  and  by  Land. 

St.  George  views  with  Tranfport  our  generous  flame : 
cc  My  Sons,  rife  to  Glory,  and  rival  my  fame. 
cc  Ancient  Manners  again  in  my  Sons  I  behold 

And 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode  It.  5 

"And  this  Age  muft  eclipfe  all  the  Ages  of  Gold."3 

Beef  ana  Beer  are  our  food  ; 

Love  and  Truth  Arm  our  Band ; 

Our  Courage  is  fteady 

And  always  is  ready 
To  fight  and  to  conquer  by  Sea  and  by  Land. 

While  thus  we  regale  as  our  Fathers  of  old, 
Our  Manners  as  Simple,  our  Courage  as  bold, 
May  Vigour  and  Prudence  our  Freedom  fecure 
Long  as  Rivers,  or  Ocean,  or  Stars  mall  endure. 

Beef  and  Beer  are  our  food  ; 

Love  and  Truth  arm  our  Band ; 

Our  Courage  is  fbeady, 

And  always  is  ready 
To  fight  and  to  conquer  by  Sea  and  by  Land. 


INSCRIPTION 

FOR  A  CURIOUS  CHAMBER-STOVE,  IN  THE  FORM  OF  AN 
URN,  SO  CONTRIVED  AS  TO  MAKE  THE  FLAME  DESCEND, 
INSTEAD  OF  RISE,  FROM  THE  FIRE  :  INVENTED  BY 
DOCTOR  FRANKLIN. 

[By  Dr.  JONATHAN  ODELL.*     1776.] 

T     IKE  a  Newton  fublimely  he  foar'd 
JL/  To  a  Summit  before  unattained ; 
New  regions  of  Science  explor'd, 

And  the  Palm  of  Philofophy  gain'd. 

With  a  Spark,  that  he  caught  from  the  Skies, 
He  difplay'd  an  unparallel'd  wonder: 

And  we  faw,  with  delight  and  furprife, 

That  his  Rod  could  protect  us  from  thunder. 

O 


'The  Loyal  Verfes 

O  had  he  been  wife  to  purfue 

The  track  for  his  talents  defign'd, 

What  a  tribute  of  praife  had  been  due 
To  the  teacher  and  friend  of  Mankind  ! 

But  to  covet  political  fame 

Was,  in  him,  a  degrading  ambition ; 
A  Spark,  that  from  Lucifer  came. 

And  kindled  the  blaze  of  Sedition. 

Let  Candor,  then,  write  on  his  Urn — •- 
Here  lies  the  renowned  Inventor, 

Whofe  flame  to  the  Skies  ought  to  burn, 
But,  inverted,  defcends  to  the  Center  ! 


EPIGRAM 

ON  A  SERMON  PREACHED  BY  THE  REV.  MR.  PIERCV, 
CHAPLAIN  TO  THE  THIRD  BATTALION  OF  PHILADELPHIA 
MILITIA. 

[By  JOSEPH  STANSBURY.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  James  Abercrom- 
bie,  Re<3or  of  the  united  Parijhes  of  Chrijl-church  and  St.  Peter's, 
in  Philadelphia  (for  notices  of  whom  Jee  Croker's  BofweWs  Jdhn- 
Con^  vol.  in,  p.  242,  p.  285),  who  communicated  this  piece,  could 
not  fix  its  date,  but  believed  it  to  have  been  written  in  June  of 
July,  1776.  "  The  weather  being  very  warm,"  Jaid  Dr.  Aber- 
crombie,  "  the  Jervant  of  General  Roberdeau  (who  commanded 
the  battalion),  a  very  black  and  remarkably  ugly  Negro,  jlood 
behind  Mr.  Percy,  in  the  pulpit,  fanning  him  with  a  degree  of 
vehemence  proportioned  to  his  inflammatory  addrejs."5] 

TO  preach  up,  friend  Percy,  at  this  critical  feafon, 
Refiftance  to  Britain,   is  not  very  civil. 
Yet  what  can  we  look  for  but  Faction  and  Treafon 
From  a  flaming  Enthufiaft,  fann'd  by  the  Devil  ? 

BIRTHDAY 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL 


BIRTHDAY  ODE. 

[Written  by  Dr.  ODELL,  on  occajion  of  the  King's  Birthday, 
June  4th,  1776  ;  and  Jung  by  a  number  of  Britijh  officers  (cap 
tured  at  St.  John's  and  Chambly  by  General  Montgomery)  who 
were  prisoners  at  that  time  at  Burlington,  New  Jerfey  ;  and  who, 
to  avoid  offence,  had  an  entertainment  in  honor  of  the  day  pre 
pared  on  an  ijland  in  the  river  Delaware,  where  they  dined  under 
a  tree.6  Printed  from  the  author's  copy,  collated  with  a  contem 
poraneous  Manujcript.] 

O'ER  Britannia's  happy  Land, 
Rul'd  by  George's  mild  command, 
On  this  bright,  aufpicious  day 
Loyal  hearts  their  tribute  pay. 
Ever  facred  be  to  mirth 
The  day  that  gave  our  Monarch  birth  ! 

There,  the  thundering  Cannon's  roar 
Echoes  round  from  fhore  to  fhore ; 
Royal  Banners  wave  on  high ; 
Drums  and  trumpets  rend  the  iky. 

There  our  Comrades  clad  in  Arms, 
Long  enured  to  War's  alarms, 
Marmall'd  all  in  bright  array 
Welcome  this  returning  day. 

There,  the  temples  chime  their  bells ; 
And  the  pealing  anthem  fwells ; 
And  the  gay,  the  grateful  throng 
Join  the  loud  triumphant  fong ! 

Nor 


The  Loyal  Verjes 

Nor  to  Britain's  Ifle  confin'd— 
Many  a  diftant  Region  join'd 
Under  George's  happy  fway 
Joys  to  hail  this  welcome  day. 

O'er  this  Land  among  the  reft, 
Till  of  late  fupremely  bleft, 
George,  to  fons  of  Britain  dear, 
Swell'd  the  fong  from  year  to  year. 

Here,  we  now  lament  to  find 
Sons  of  Britain,  fierce  and  blind, 
Drawn  from  loyal  love  aftray, 
Hail  no  more  this  welcome  day. 

When  by  foreign  Foes  difmay'd, 
Thanklefs  Sons,  ye  call'd  for  aid  : 
Then,  we  gladly  fought  and  bled, 
And  your  Foes  in  triumph  led. 

Now,  by  Fortune's  blind  command, 
Captives  in  your  hoftile  Land ; 
To  this  lonely  fpot  we  ftray 
Here  unfeen  to  hail  this  day  ! 

Though  by  Fortune  thus  betray'd, 
For  a  while  we  feek  the  made, 
Still  our  loyal  hearts  are  free — 
Still  devoted,  George,  to  thee  ! 

Britain,  Emprefs  of  the  Main, 
Fortune  envies  thee  in  vain  : 
Safe,  while  Ocean  round  thee  flows, 
Though  the  world  were  all  thy  Foes, 

Long 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  9 

Long  as  Sun  and  Moon  endure 
Britain's  Throne  fhall  ftand  fecure, 
And  great  George's  royal  line 
There  in  fplendid  honor  fhine. 

Ever  facred  be  to  Mirth 

The  day  that  gave  our  Monarch  birth! 


SONG 

FOR  A  FISHING   PARTY  NEAR    BURLINGTON,   ON  THE 
DELAWARE,     IN 

[Compojed  by  Dr.  ODELL,  under  circumjtances  Jimilar  to 
thofe  which  occajioned  the  preceding  piece.  To  the  third  verfe 
he  has  appended  this  Note  :  "  Proteftant  was  a  term  adopted  by 
a  circle  of  Loyalijls. "] 

HOW  fweet  is  the  feafon,  the  fky  how  ferene ; 
On  Delaware's  banks  how  delightful  the  fcene ; 
The  Prince  of  the  Rivers,  his  waves  all  afleep, 
In  filence  majeftic  glides  on  to  the  Deep. 

Away  from  the  noife  of  the  Fife  and  the  Drum, 
And  all  the  rude  din  of  Bellona  we  come ; 
And  a  plentiful  ftore  of  good  humor  we  bring 
To  feafon  our  feaft  in  the  fhade  of  Cold  Spring. 

A  truce  then  to  all  whig  and  tory  debate; 
True  lovers  of  Freedom,  contention  we  hate  : 
For  the  Demon  of  difcord  in  vain  tries  his  art 
To  poflefs  or  inflame  a  true  Proteftant  heart. 

2  True 


i  o  The  Loyal  Verfes 

True  Proteftant  friends  to  fair  Liberty's  caufe, 
To  decorum,  good  order,  religion  and  laws, 
From  avarice,  jealoufy,  perfidy,  free; 
We  wifh  all  the  world  were  as  happy  as  we. 

We  have  wants,  we  confefs,  but  are  free  from  the  care 
Of  thofe  that  abound,  yet  have  nothing  to  fpare : 
Serene  as  the  fky,  as  the  river  ferene, 
We  are  happy  to  want  envy,  malice  and  fpleen. 

While  thoufands  around  us,  mifled  by  a  few, 
The  Phantoms  of  pride  and  ambition  purfue, 
With  pity  their  fatal  delufion  we  fee; 
And  wifh  all  the  world  were  as  happy  as  we ! 


A  WELCOME  TO  HOWE. 

[Written  by  JOSEPH  STANSBURY,  on  occajion  of  the  arrival  of 
Sir  William  Howe  on  the  coajl  of  New  York,  in  June,  1776.] 

HE  comes,  he  comes,  the  Hero  comes  : 
Sound,  found  your  Trumpets,  beat  your  Drums: 
From  port  to  port  let  Cannon  roar 
Howe's  welcome  to  this  weftern  Shore  ! 

Britannia's  dauntlefs  Sons  appear; 

For  Ages  part  renown'd  in  War. 

The  Sword  they  draw,  the  Lance  they  wield, 

Now  Glory  calls  them  to  the  Field. 

With  laurels  crown'd  triumphant  fee 
Britannia's  Genius,  Victory  : 
With  her,  fair  Freedom  fits  in  State, 
And  Mercy  fmiles,  ferenely  great. 

My 


of  Stan/bury  and  QdelL  1 1 

My  Sons,  Britannia  cries  —  forbear: 
Deluded  Sons,  nor  urge  the  War. 
What  Juftice  afks,  is  all  your  own  ; 
For  Juftice  yet  fupports  my  Throne. 

Would  you  be  free? — be  Freedom  thine: 
Britannia  bends  at  Freedom's  mrine. 
Is  Wealth  your  Wim  ?  —  that  Wealth  poflefs, 
For  Britain's  King  delights  to  blefs. 

Be  happy  ftill,  nor  dare  explore 

With  moon-ftruck  Guides  the  heights  of  Pow'r : 

For  Pow'r  is  mine,  and  flows  from  me 

In  temper'd  Streams  of  Liberty. 

With  me  connected,  ftand  fecure 
While  Sun  or  Moon  or  Stars  endure: 
And  when  the  World  is  wrapt  in  Fire, 
This  mighty  Empire  laft  expire. 


A  BIRTHDAY  SONG. 

[By  Dr.  ODELL  :  composed  at  New  York,  in  honour  of  the 
anniverfary  of  the  King's  birthday,  June  4th,  1777  ;  and  printed 
in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  that  year.] 

TIME  was  when  America  hallow'd  the  morn 
On  which  the  lov'd  monarch  of  Britain  was  born, 
Hallow'd  the  day,  and  joyfully  chanted 

God  fave  the  King ! 

Then  flourim'd  the  bleffings  of  freedom  and  peace, 
And  plenty  flow'd  in  with  a  yearly  increafe. 
Proud  of  our  lot  we  chanted  merrily 

Glory  and  joy  crown  the  King  ! 

With 


12  The  Loyal  Verfes 

With  envy  beheld  by  the  nations  around, 
We  rapidly  grew,  nor  was  anything  found 
Able  to  check  our  growth  while  we  chanted 

God  fave  the  King  ! 

O  bleft  beyond  meafure,  had  honour  and  truth 
Still  nurf  'd  in  our  hearts  what  they  planted  in  youth  ! 
Loyalty  ftill  had  chanted  merrily 

Glory  and  joy  crown  the  King ! 

But  fee !   how  rebellion  has  lifted  her  head  ! 
How  honour  and  truth  are  with  loyalty  fled  ! 
Few  are  there  now  who  join  us  in  chanting 

God  fave  the  King  ! 

And  fee  !  how  deluded  the  multitude  fly 
To  arm  in  a  caufe  that  is  built  on  a  lye ! 
Yet  are  we  proud  to  chant  thus  merrily 

Glory  and  joy  crown  the  King ! 

Though  faction  by  falfehood  awhile  may  prevail, 
And  loyalty  fuffers  a  captive  in  jail, 
Britain  is  rouz'd,  rebellion  is  falling  : 

God  fave  the  King! 

The  captive  fhall  foon  be  releaf  d  from  his  chain ; 
And  conqueft  reftore  us  to  Britain  again, 
Ever  to  join  in  chanting  merrily 

Glory  and  joy  crown  the  King  ! 

TRADESMEN'S 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell.  1 3 


TRADESMEN'S  SONG 

FOR  HIS  MAJESTY'S  BIRTH  DAY,  JUNE  4TH,  1777. 
TUNE  :  When  Britain  fir  ft  at  Heaven  s  command. 

[By  JOSEPH  STANSBURY,  and  firfl  printed  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Ledger,  October  22d,  1777.  The  Ledger  was  a  tory  paper, 
ijjued  weekly  by  James  Humphreys,  at  Philadelphia,  during 
Sir  William  Howe's  occupation  of  that  city.  On  the  4th  of 
June  the  city  was  jlill  occupied  by  the  Whigs,  and  this  Jong  could 
not  have  obtained  publicity  before  Howe's  arrival  without  bring 
ing  trouble  on  its  author's  head. 

AGAIN,  my  focial  Friends,  we  meet 
To  celebrate  our  annual  Treat, 
And  with  our  loyal  hearts  difplay 
This  great,  this  glorious  Natal  Day  : 
'Tis  George's  Natal  Day  we  ring; 
Our  firm,  our  fteady  Friend  and  King. 

For  Britain's  Parliament  and  Laws 

He  waves  his  own  Imperial  Power ; 

For  this  (Old  England's  glorious  Caufe) 

May  Heaven  on  him  its  bleffings  mower  ; 
And  Colonies,  made  happy,  ring 
Great  George,  their  real  Friend  and  King. 

Since  Britain  firft  at  Heaven's  command 

Arofe  from  out  the  Azure  Main, 

Did  ever  o'er  this  jarring  Land 

A  Monarch  with  more  firmnefs  reign  ? 
Then  to  the  Natal  Day  we'll  ling 
Of  George,  our  facred  Friend  and  King. 

To 


14  'The  Loyal  Verfes 

To  Charlotte  fair,  our  matchlefs  Queen, 

To  all  his  blooming,  heavenly  line, 

To  all  their  Family  and  Friends 

Let  us  in  hearty  chorus  join  : 

And  George's  Natal  Day  let's  fing, 
Our  gracious  Father,  Friend  and  King*7 

And  may  the  heavenly  Powers  combine, 
While  we  with  loyal  hearts  implore 
That  one  of  his  moft  facred  Line 
May  rule  thefe  Realms  till  Time's  no  more : 
And  we  with  chearful  voices  fing 
Great  George  our  fleady,  natal  King. 


THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY. 

1777. 

[R.  CHUBB  is  the  reputed  author  of  thefe  lines  :  but  as  they 
have  alfo  been  attributed  to  STANSBURY,  the  editor  with  Jbme 
hejitation  gives  them  a  place  here.  They  are  printed  from  the 
Pennfylvania  Ledger  of  December  loth,  1777;  collated  with  a 
manujcript  copy.  The  text  in  the  Ledger  is  prefaced  by  this 
Note  :  "  The  following  was  written  in  commemoration  of  the 
glorious  action  on  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  July  lajl,  when  a  party 
of  courageous  Independents^  headed  by  Jbme  of  their  Rebel  Chiefs, 
waged  a  mojl  daring  war  againjl  the  unenlightened  windows  of 
the  Quakers  and  other  enemies  to  their  ridiculous  independent 
fcheme  in  this  city.  "8] 

WHAT  times  are  thefe  ?  — a  perfed  riddle  ! 
Whence  fled  the  fcenes  of  former  quiet  ? 
Blefs  us — when  Patriots  ftrum  the  fiddle, 
And  Generals  form  and  head  the  riot ! 

The 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell. 

The  unarm'd  Quakers  and  the  Tories 
Sustained  the  honours  of  the  night, 

And  ftill  their  poor,  unfhutter'd  ftories 
Hang  zig-zag  trophies  of  their  might. 

See  General  Gates  and  Dicky  Peters,9 
With  Jemmy  Meafe  of  noted  worth;10 

Richard  and  Tom  the  prime  of  eaters, 
Like  ancient  heroes  fally  forth.11 

Our  true  Don  Quixotes,  by  falfe  gueffings 
Direct  their  calls  and  lead  the  van  : 

Miftake  the  Tories  for  the  Heflians, 
And  Quaker  for  poor  Englimman  ! 

Illuftrious  Chieftains  !   future  ages 
Shall  mark  your  triumphs  of  the  day. 

While  wide  the  patriotic  Sages 

Shall  round  the  world  your  fame  convey, 

Still  as  a  foil,  ye  new  Law-makers, 

To  former  happinefs  remain. 
Blunderers,  go  on :   defpife  the  Quakers  — 

You  never  mall  their  heighth  attain.12 

The  wifdom  of  their  gentle  ruling 
Can  bear  the  retrofpective  view  ; 

And  this,  with  all  your  boafted  fchooling, 
Is  more  than  will  be  faid  of  you, 


1 6  The  Loyal  Verfes 

A  NEW  SONG. 

TUNE:   Csefar  and  Pompey  were  both  of  them,  &c. 
[By  Mr.  STANSBURY  :  printed  from  the  original  Manufcript.13] 

WHEN  Britain  determined  to  tax  us  at  pleafure, 
We  rofe  as  one  Man,  and  oppofed  the  meafure; 
Not  liking  the  Pilgrimage,  I  can  aflure  ye, 
Of  going  to  England  for  Trial  by  Jury.14 

Therefore  for  Freedom  alone  we  are  fighting; 
For  that  fort  of  Freedom  was  not  fo  inviting, 

To  Edicts  of  Britain  fubjection  refuting, 
We  fet  up  a  Government  of  our  own  chuimg. 
The  Guardians  of  Freedom  refolv'd  to  maintain  it, 
And  publinVd  a  long  Bill  of  Rights  to  explain  it. 
For  its  for  Freedom  alone  we  are  righting : 
The  name  of  all  names  which  true  Freemen  delight  in. 

We  fondly  imagined  that  all  future  Story 
Should  tell  of  our  Juftice,  our  Freedom  and  Glory: 
We  laugh'd  at  OpprerTion,  not  dreaming  or  fearing 
That  Men  would  be  banim'd  without  charge  or  hearing: 

For  Freedom  indeed  we  fuppofed  we  were  righting ; 

But  this  fort  of  Freedom's  not  very  inviting. 

If  they  with  our  Enemies  have  been  partakers, 
Then  prove  it  in  God's  name,  and  punim  the  Quakers: 
But  if  there  is  nothing  alleged  but  Sufpicion, 
What  honeft  Man's  fafe  from  this  State-Inquifition  ? 
If  fuch  be  the  Freedom  for  which  we  are  fighting, 
This  fample,  good  Folks,  is  not  very  inviting. 

When 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell. '  1 7 

When  good  Men  are  feiz'd  on,  who  boldly  defie  all 
The  malice  of  Hell,  and  demand  a  fair  Trial — 
The  caufe  of  refufal  you  vainly  diiTemble : 
cc  The  Churchmen  mufl  bend,  and  the  Quakers  fhall 

tremble." 

Since  this  is  the  Freedom  for  which  we  are  fighting, 
The  old-fafhioned  Freedom  was  much  more  inviting. 

When  Quakers    and  Churchmen   have    fuffer'd   your 

pleafure — 
Their  Worfhip  and  Confciences  fhap'd  to  your  mea- 

fure — 

The  Catholics  then  may  expect  Penal  Laws, 
Whereby  we  mall  have  one  Religion  and  Caufe.15 
This,  this  is  the  Freedom  for  which  you  are  fighting: 
And  let  all  who  think  it  so,  call  it  inviting. 


THE  PETITION  OF   PHILADELPHIA  TO 
SIR  WILLIAM  HOWE. 

[Written  by  Mr.  STANSBURY,  about  O&ober,  1777,  and  now 
printed  from  his  revijed  manujcript  copy,  collated  with  the  rough 
draft.  The  latter,  by  the  way,  Jupplies  the  names  of  Price  and 
Coffin  in  the  thirtieth  line.  16] 

TO  General  Howe,  Commiffioner  in  chief 
To  grant  all  injured  Subjects  Jure  Relief > 
We,  the  Subfcribers,  beg  leave  to  prefent 
This  State  of  Facts,  by  way  of —  Compliment : 

That  long  before  the  date  of  Whig  and  Tory 
The  Paper-Money  was  this  Country's  Glory ; 
In  all  our  Dealings  did  its  Value  hold 
In  fix'd  Proportion  to  the  Coins  of  Gold  : — 

3  That 


1 8  The  Loyal  Verfes 

That  when  the  Britifh  Troops  firft  took  Pofleflion 
It  paff'd  as  formerly  by  your  ConcefTion  :-• — 

That  with  the  Fleet  came  up  the  Merchant-Stranger^ 
Who,  by  refilling,  brought  it  into  danger: 
(Inform'd  perhaps  that  ftill  in  Rebel's  hands 
Lay  all  the  mortgage-Deeds  and  mortgag'd  Lands, 
And  reaf'ning  thence  have  fo  miftook  the  Cafe 
They  hold  the  Money's  tottering  as  its  bafe) 
And  certain  Citizens,  we  muft  confefs  it  t'ye, 
Have  brought  their  Brethren  into  fad  neceffity. 

That  if  fuppreft,  it  may  be  mildly  faid 
We  have  no  Medium  adequate  to  Trade ; 
And  if  the  Army  fell  their  Bills  at  all 
Th'  Exchange  they  fell  at  muft  be  very  fmall. 

That  //  received  the  Sanction  of  the  Crown  : 
And  many  Friends  of  Government  in  Town, 
Sold  each  Half-Joe  for  Twelve  Pounds,  Congrefs  Tram, 
Which  purchaf 'd  Six  Pounds  of  this  Legal  Cam  ; 
Whereby  they  have,  if  you  will  bar  the  bubble, 
Inftead  of  lofing,  made  their  Money  double : 
Then  pity  them,  the  widow  and  the  orphan  — 
Nor  heed  the  partial  Tale  from  Price  or  Coffin. 

That  in  the  Year  (the  famous)  Fifty-Nine  — 
A  Year  which  muft  in  Britain's  Annals  mine— 17 
The  Army  wanting  Cafli  obtain'd  the  Loan 
Of  Paper  Money,  Fifty  Thoufand  Pounds  : 
By  which  their  Bills,  that  fcarce  a  Man  would  buy, 
Advanc'd  Fourteen  per  Cent  immediately. 
Its  true  the  Army  now  has  Cam  enough ; 
And  therefore  mould  fupport  our  Paper  Stuff. 

That  a  large  Sum,  collected  with  difpatch, 
Lays  in  the  Treaf'rers  hands  to  pay  the  Watch, 
Who  will  not  take  it,  unlefs  in  the  Shops 
And  Market  it  will  buy  them  Food  and  Slops. 

Our 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  19 

Our  Patrole  therefore  will  have  Guns  and  Swords, 
Inftead  of  Lanthorns,  Staves,  and  empty  Words.18 

That  if  you  will  aflume  our  Load  of  Ills, 
Our  Paper's  ready  to  exchange  for  Bills, 
To  pay  our  Friends  in  England  with  your  Gold, 
And  leave  your  Officers  our  Rags  to  hold. 

Thefe  and  more  cogent  Reafons  might  be  told 
Why  Paper  Money  mould  be  par  with  Gold. 

We  pray  the  General  in  a  general  Way 
Would  grant  Redrefs,  and  that  without  Delay, 
And  Value  give  the  Paper  we  poffefs  :  — 
And  then — Wellfign  the  long-fine e  penri  d  A ddrefs.^ 


EPIGRAM. 

["Wrote  extempore  by  JOSEPH  STANSBURY  on  feeing  a  thin, 
Sieve-like  Blanket  returned  by  General  Howe,  in  lieu  of  a  good 
Rofe  Swan/kin,  taken  from  a  Quaker.  "20] 

WHEN  Gongrefs  had  fled  in  a  Fright  from  their 
Foes, 

The  Quakers  they  thought  to  fnug  under  the  Rofe. 
But  Billy,  who  fees  with  the  Glance  of  an  Eye, 
Soon  found  though  the  Quakers  were  grave,  they  were 

fly: 

Refolv'd  to  diftinguifh  the  good  from  the  bad, 
I'll  iift  'em,  he  cries,  if  there's  fieves  to  be  had ! 

THE 


20  The  Loyal  Verfes 

THE  KITTEN  SONG. 
TUNE  :   Come  my  kitten,  my  kitten,  &c. 

[Probably  by  Mr.  STANSBURY  :  published  in  Towne's  Pennfyl- 
vania  Evening  Pojl,  December  2d,  1777,  with  this  prefatory  Note : 
"  Good  Mr.  Towne — You  mujl  have  heard  of  the  ajfociation  or 
agreement  that  the  ladies  of  this  city  (Philadelphia)  have  entered 
into,  in  order  to  Jupport  the  old  paper  currency  which  has  received 
the  Janclion  of  our  gracious  Jbvereign  ;  and  of  their  determination 
to  exert  themjelves,  as  far  as  ladies  can,  to  rejlore  it  to  its  former 
value.  Now  you  mujl  know,  Sir,  I  am  a  Jubfcriber  to  that 
agreement,  and  being  myfelf  vajlly  fond  of  a  little  fun  and  harm- 
lejs  humour,  have  concluded,  from  your  phyfiognomy,  that  you 
have  no  objection  to  either,  I  have  therefore  Jent  you  a  new 
Jong  to  an  old  tune.  By  inferring  it  in  your  next  paper,  you  will 
oblige  a  number  of  ladies,  and  among  the  rejl  your  conjlant  reader, 
Flirtilla.  Philad.  Dec.  I,  1777."  In  many  refpecls  theje  lines 
will  remind  the  reader  of  the  childjjh  nurjery  doggerel  that  Jup- 
plies  the  air  :  but  the  circumjlances  under  which  they  were  com- 
pojed  conjlitute  an  interejling  feature  in  the  local  hijlory  of  the 
day.21] 

GOME  all  ye  good  people  attend 
Pray  hear  what  a  new  comer  offers  ; 
I've  all  forts  of  good  things  to  vend, 
If  you  will  but  open  your  coffers. 
Here  we  go  up,  up,  up, 

And  here  we  go  down,  down-e ; 
Here  we  go  backwards  and  forwards 
And  here  we  go  round,  round,  round-e  ! 

Here 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  2 1 

Here  is  a  fleet  from  New  York, 

And  here  the  dry  goods  mall  abound-e ; 

Here  is  both  butter  and  pork, 
And  all  juft  now  come  round-e. 

Here  you  have  fait  for  your  broth, 

And  here  you  have  fugar  and  cheefe-e  ; 

Tea  without  taxes  or  oath, 

But  down  with  your  gold,  if  you  pleafe-e. 

Here  is  an  end  to  your  rags, 

Your  backs  mall  no  more  go  bare-e : 

Farewell  to  the  fneers  of  the  wags, 

But  your  gold.  Sir,  muft  firfl  take  air-e. 

Here  you  have  good  Irim  beef, 

And  here  you  have  fugar  and  fpice-e; 

Here  you  may  part  with  your  grief, 

For  gold  we  have  plumbs  for  mince  pies-e. 

Here  you  have  topknot  and  tete 

Too  big  for  a  bumel  to  hold-e ; 
Here  you  may  drefs  like  the  great: 

And  all  for  a  trifle  of  gold-e. 

Here  you  have  catgut  and  gauze, 
And  cambrick  and  lawn  very  fine-e ; 

Mits,  hofe,  and  a  thoufand  kickfhaws, 
For  which  let  your  silver  be  mine-e. 

Here  you  have  trinkets  so  fine, 

And  baubles  to  hang  by  your  fide-e ; 

Here  you  may  glitter  and  mine ; 

For  gold  you  may  look  like  a  bride-e. 

Then 


22  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Then  fpurn  at  the  wife  old  dons, 
Who  make  for  their  paper  a  rout-e ; 

Here's  goods  for  your  gold  at  once  ; 
Come,  out  with  your  gold,  come  out-e. 

You  II  ruin  the  land,  we  know, 

By  joining  with  what  we've  told-e  : 

But  fince  all  your  wealth  muft  go. 
We'll  ftrive  to  encircle  your  gold-e. 

Come,  furely  I've  told  you  enough  ! 

We  have  all  that  you  want  and  wifh-e ; 
But  pray  give  us  no  paper  fluff: 
We  come  for  the  loaf  and  the  fifh-e. 
Here  we  go  up,  up,  up, 

And  here  we  go  down,  down-e ; 
Here  we  go  backwards  and  forwards 
And  here  we  go  round,  round,  round-e  ! 


VERSES  TO  THE  TORIES. 

[By  Mr.  STANSBURY.  Thefe  lines  appear  to  have  been 
written  in  conjideration  of  the  hardjhips  endured  by  perjbns  who 
on  the  charge  of  being  inimically  dijpojed  towards  the  interejls  of 
America,  had  been  taken  into  cujlody  by  the  Whigs,  and  con 
fined  in  Jbme  interior  and  remote  town.22] 

COME,  ye  brave,  by  Fortune  wounded 
More  than  by  the  vaunting  Foe, 
Chear  your  hearts,  ne'er  be  confounded  ; 
Trials  all  muft  undergo. 
Tho'  without  or  Rhyme  or  Reafon 
Hurried  back  thro'  Wilds  unknown, 

Virtue's 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  23 

Virtue's  frniles  can  make  a  Prifon 
Far  more  charming  than  a  Throne. 
Think  not,  tho'  wretched,  poor,  or  naked, 
Your  breaft  alone  the  Load  fuftains: 
Sympathizing  Hearts  partake  it — 
Britain's  Monarch  mares  your  Pains. 
This  Night  of  Pride  and  Folly  over, 
A  dawn  of  Hope  will  foon  appear. 
In  its  light  you  mall  difcover 
Your  triumphant  day  is  near. 


THE  CARPET   KNIGHT. 

[This  piece,  collated  from  two  of  Mr.  Stanfbury's  Manu- 
fcripts,  offers  a  renewed  evidence  of  the  difejleem  into  which  Sir 
William  Howe  fell  during  his  occupation  of  Philadelphia.  The 
Tories  were  furprized  and  difgufled  at  feeing  his  fine  army  unem 
ployed  in  any  ferious  enterprife,  and  his  fplendid  military  capaci 
ties  yielding  to  Jlothfulnefs,  dijfipation  and  extravagance ;  and, 
as  many  thought,  even  to  avarice.  The  mortal  whofe  charms 
were  preferred,  according  to  the  fong,  to  thofe  of  Venus  herfelf, 
was  probably  a  married  lady  from  Jamaica  Plains,  near  Bojlon, 
who  is  named  in  this  fame  connection,  but  in  rather  broader  phrafe, 
by  Francis  Hopkinfon,  in  his  Battle  of  the  Kegs.  The  date  of 
this  fong  feemsto  be  December  24th,  1777  ;  Jhortly  after  Howe's 
return  to  the  city  from  his  idle  attempt  to  furprife  Wajhington?s 
Army  at  Whitemarjh.23] 

LATE  a  Council  of  Gods  from  their  heavenly  abodes 
Were  call'd  on  Olympus  to  meet; 
Jove  gave  his  commands  from  his  throne  in  the  clouds: 
Attend,  and  his  words  I'll  repeat, 

Ye 


24  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Ye  know,  all  ye  Pow'rs  that  attend  my  high  Throne, 
Your  Will  to  my  Pleafure  muft  bow: 

I  will,  that  thofe  Gifts  which  you  prize  as  your  own, 
Shall  now  be  beftow'd  on  my  Howe. 

Aftrxa,  who  long  fince  had  quitted  the  Earth, 

Prefented  her  Balance  and  Sword  ; 
The  Honors  derived  from  Titles  and  Birth 

By  Juno  were  inftant  conferred  ; 
Fierce  Mars  gave  his  Chariot ;  gay  Hermes  his  Wand ; 

Alcides,  his  Club  and  his  Bow ; 
Sweet  Peace  with  her  Olive-branch  graced  his  hand ; 

And  VenuS)  herfelf  did  beftow. 

Thus,  enrich' d  with  fuch  Gifts  as  the  Gods  can  impart, 

The  Hero  by  Jove  was  addrefTd : 
As  you  wifh  to  reclaim  each  American  heart, 

Let  Juftice  prefide  in  your  breaft ; 
Exhibit  the  bleflings  of  Order  and  Peace 

As  wide  as  your  Conquefts  mall  fpread ; 
Let  your  Promife  be  facred — Rebellion  mall  ceafe, 

And  the  Laurel  mall  bloom  round  your  head. 

I  know  that  fell  Difcord,  your  zeal  to  oppofe, 

Will  nourifh  Sedition  and  Hate : 
Miftakes  may  occur,  and  Friends  furTer  with  Foes : 

Yet  your  Wifh  is  confirmed  by  Fate.24 
Sweet  Peace  mall  revive  from  the  horrors  of  War ; 

Her  Empire  again  be  reftor'd ; 
Affection  and  Duty  mail  cover  each  Scar, 

And  Howe  by  the  World  be  ador'd ! 

Now  with  fhame  muft  the  Mufe  the  fad  fequel  difplay; 

With  Sorrow,  and  Shame,  and  Surprife  : 
The  Gifts  of  Aftr*ea  he  loft  by  the  way, 

And  her  fillet  he  plac'd  o'er  his  Eyes. 

The 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  25 

The  Arms  of  Alcides  he  fent  to  Burgoyne, 
And  with  them  the  Chariot  of  Mars : 

For  what  but  Afliftance  and  Weapons  divine 
Could  finim  fuch  Quixotic  Wars  ? 

Hermes  Wand  was  now  ufelefs ;  no  Snakes  would  unite : 

The  Olive  in  vain  was  difplay'd ; 
For  bleffings  no  longer  attended  the  fight, 

And  Loyalty  fled  from  its  fhade.25 
The  Gifts  fent  to  Burgoyne  return'd  to  the  fkies — 

Defpairing  he  yielded  his  Arms  : 
And  fair  Venus^  difgufted,  beheld  with  Surprize 

A  Mortal  preferred  to  her  Charms. 


A  FABLE. 

[Printed  from  Mr.  Stanfbury's  Manujcript,  and  bearing  date 
January  24th,  1778.] 

IN  antient  Times,  the  Poets  fing, 
The  Lion  was  elected  King  ; 
And  all  the  Beafts,  with  homage  due, 
Proffer'd  and  fwore  allegiance  true 
To  him  and  to  his  heirs  forever  ; 
And  fo  far  all  went  fmooth  and  clever. 

But  his  dominions  were  fo  large, 

He  could  not  execute  his  charge 

And  give  his  fubjects  that  protection 

He  promif'd  them  on  his  election, 

Unlefs  he  call'd  in  fome  affiftance  : 

For  Brutes,  as  Men,  will  make  refiftance 

To  lawful  Kings,  when  at  a  diftance. 

4  And 


2  6  The  Loyal  Verjes 

And,  as  he  rul'd  with  feebleft  fway 

Where  Pennyfeather's  Forefts  lay, 

He  named  the  Leopard,  Greyhound,  Fox, 

To  hold  them  as  with  Bolts  and  Locks  ; 

Three  trufty  Brutes  to  aft  together 

As  joint  Viceroys  o'er  Pennyfeather. 

Some  time  the  project  feemed  to  anfwer. 
All  day  the  happy  Beafts  could  dance,  or 
Sing  and  play  a  thoufand  tricks  ; 
Make  bows  or  cringes  ;  jump  o'er  flicks  ; 
And  do  what  in  their  power  lay 
To  pleafe  the  Brutes  who  bore  the  Sway. 
The  Viceroys  made  fuch  large  Profeffions 
Of  guarding  every  Brute's  porTeffions, 
As  private  Virtue,  public  Zeal, 
The  good  of  all  the  Common  Weal, 
Alone  infpir'd  their  patriot  Wifh  :  — 
No  diftant  view  of  Loaf  or  Fifh. 
All  felf  and  felfim  aims  fubdued, 
They  lived  but  for  the  common  good. 

True  Patriots  are  indeed  a  rarity ; 
And  yet  I  may  in  truth  declare  it  t'ye, 
They  dealt  their  Cards  fo  well  about 
That  no  one  entertain'd  a  doubt 
But  Juftice  had  reiign'd  her  throne, 
And  left  her  Scales  with  them  alone. 

The  tale  proceeds  :   Upon  the  ground 
An  Oftritch  Egg  one  day  was  found, 
By  mipwreck  caft  upon  the  more. 
The  Beafts  the  prize  in  triumph  bore, 
And  laid  it  at  their  ruler's  feet 
With  honour  and  obedience  meet. 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  27 

-  I  muft  not  dwell 


Too  long  upon  this  precious  fhelL 
What — but  an  Egg  to  be  divided  ! 
How  can  this  bufmefs  be  decided  ! 

Why,  cries  the  Fox,   this  lucky  Stroke 
May  be  improved — the  Egg's  unbroke — 
Then  inftant  place  it  on  the  Strand, 
And  careful  cover  it  with  Sand ; 
Expofe  it  to  the  Sun's  warm  beam, 
And  foon  the  Egg  with  Life  will  teem  ; 
Produce  a  Bird  of  monftrous  fize 
And  weight  and  worth— a  glorious  Prize  ! 
A  Prize  which  we  will  mare  together, 
Nor  throw  away  a  iingle  Feather. 

Sir  Fox,  cries  Leopard,  fure  you  joke, 

Nor  think  how  'twill  the  Beafts  provoke. 

We  rule  with  delegated  Powers  ; 

They  think  the  Prize  is  theirs,  not  ours. 

Oh,  how  our  Cheeks  will  burn  with  Shame 

When  they  traduce  our  public  Fame, 

And  every  Rafcal  cries  at  pleafure  —  "  he 

C£  Is  one  of  thofe  that  robb'd  the  Treafury, 

cc  And  fmuggled  to  himfelf  the  Gold 

"  For  which  the  Egg  mould  have  been  fold." 

Let  my  advice  this  time  prevail : 

Expofe  the  Egg  to  public  Sale : 

And  whatfoe'er  it  mall  produce, 

Apply  it  to  the  public  ufe. 

The  Greyhound  pauf'd- — then  thus  began  : 
I  much  approve  the  Leopard's  plan. 
What  he  obferves  is  very  true  ; 
The  Rabble  think  the  Egg  their  due, 

And 


28  The  Loyal  Verfes 

And  would  with  endlefs  noife  and  clatter 
Purfue  us,  if  we  fmugg'd  the  matter. 
What  vftfhould  do  is  mighty  plain  : 
What  we  may  do,  I'll  juft  explain. 
We  may  amufe  the  Beafts  who  crave  it, 
And  fay— —  the  higheft  bid  mall  have  it. 
But  few  of  them  have  feen  fuch  Fowl, 
Or  know  an  Oftrich  from  an  owl. 
Afraid  the  Bird  may  fhortly  die, 
They'll  cautious  be,  nor  bid  too  high: 
And  thofe  who  know  its  worth  and  ufe, 
Will  fwear  they  would  prefer  a  Goofe, 
Or  Hen  that  lays  good  ftore  of  Eggs  : 
That  bating  Feathers,  Neck  and  Legs, 
It  was  no  larger  than  a  Widgeon, 
Nor  half  fo  fat  as  good  Squab  Pidgeon. 
Then  make  a  Bid  with  carelefs  Air — • 
Not  half  its  Value,  you  may  fwear. 
Hence  we  may  take  a  fair  Occafion 
And  ferve,  each  one,  his  own  Relation, 
In  fuch  a  way,  the  candid  muft 
And  will  acknowledge,  ftrictly  juft. 
Let's  inftant  pay  the  higheft  price — 
The  Matter's  fettled  in  a  trice — 
And  give  our  Friends  the  Egg  to  nurfe  ; 
The  Public's  ferv'd — who  fares  the  worfe  ? 
Pray,  why  may  not  our  Puppies  claim 
Their  honeft  mare  of  Wealth  or  Fame, 
And  fill  in  time  the  higher  clafTes  ? 
And,  cloathed  with  honor,  be  juft  Afles? 

The  Speech  produc'd  a  general  Smile  : 
And  'twas  agreed  to  mare  the  Spoil. 


ON 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  29 


ON  THE  DOWNFALL  OF    LEGAL  PAPER 
MONEY. 

[Written  at  Philadelphia  in  the  winter  of  1777-8,  by  Mr. 
STANSBURY,  and  printed  from  a  collation  of  his  revijed  manu- 
Jcript  copy  with  the  rough  draft.  From  the  allufion  in  the 
Jlxteenth  line,  the  piece  would  jeem  to  have  been  addrejfed  to 
Rev.  Dr.  William  Smith,  whofe  oration  on  the  death  of  General 
Montgomery  (Feb.  igth,  1776)  was  long  conjldered  a  model  of 
patriotic  eloquence.  Literary  tajles  and  a  common  religion  may 
have  ejlablijhed  a  congeniality  between  Dr.  Smith  and  the  author 
which  political  prejudices  need  not  have  dejlroyed.26] 

WHEN  Charles's  Horfe,  for  want  of  Breath, 
Like  others  fell  a  prey  to  Death, 
No  courtier  dar'd  to  raife  his  head, 
And  tell  the  News,   "that  he  was  dead." 
At  laft  they  fix'd  on  Killigrew — 
For  what  may  not  a  Jefter  do  ? 
A  licenf 'd  Wag,  who,  fpite  of  Rule, 
Will  fpeak  bold  Truths  and  play  the  Fool, 
And  tell  a  Monarch  to  his  face 
His  Horfe  is  dead,  if  fuch  the  cafe. 

In  pride  of  War,  when  Heroes  fall, 
Then — Eloquence  fhould  grace  the  Pall; 
In  nervous  Style  their  Worth  proclaim  ; 
And  fix  them  on  the  rolls  of  Fame 
In  patriot  ftrains,  devoid  of  flummery, 
Like  your  Oration  on  Montgomery.27 

No  Hero's  praifes  claim  my  Song ; 
No  praife  is  due  to  acting  wrong  : 

To 


30  'The  Loyal  Verfes 

To  burning,  dripping,  cheating,  plundering; 
Delays,  Miftakes  and  endlefs  blundering  : 
Nor  Charles's  German  horfe  that's  dead : 
But  faith,  it  is  the  Want  of  Bread, 
Which  threatens  hard,  (look  e'er  fo  funny) 
Since  the  deceafe  of  Paper  Money.28 

Seiz'd  by  a  Fit  of  Oppofition 
Which  baffled  ev'ry  State  Phyfician  ; 
Each  lenient  Meafure  tried  in  vain 
To  bring  her  back  to  Health  again  ; 
Her  nerves  fo  firm  and  weak  by  fpells  ;29 
It  pofed  the  Doclors  Smith  and  Wells  : 
And  when  they  order'd  ftronger  Med'cines 
She  languiih'd — *puked  — in  fine,  is  dead  fince. 

Ah  !•  what  avails  her  former  Pride, 
When  bufy  Commerce  roll'd  his  tide 
Obedient  to  her  nod  ?      Her  fmile 
Richly  repaid  the  Lab'rers  toil. 
The  regal  Crown,  with  Splendor  bright. 
From  her  has  afk'd,  and  borrow'd  Light, 
Ah  !  what  avails  the  Peafant's  cry  : 
The  tatter'd  Veft  :   the  afldng  Eye  : 
The  famifh'd  Look  !   the  aking  Heart : 
The  Infant's  fcream  :   the  Parent's  fmart : 
The  fainting  Wife:   the  Friend  expiring, 
For  want  of  Food  and  Cloaths  and  Firing ! 

In  this  fad  Cafe,  Humanity  muft  fail, 
Nor  Charity  can  fave  the  Wretch  from  Jail  ! 
Both  want  the  means  to  eafe  the  victim's  Woe, 
Since  Gold  is  Wealth,  and  Paper  only  Shew. 
With  heartfelt  Sorrow  then  infcribe  her  Urn, 
And  bid  Posterity  the  Story  mourn. 

INSCRIPTION. 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  3 1 


INSCRIPTION. 

Here  refts,  in  hope  fome  future  Day  to  rife 

With  former  Luftre  in  thefe  weftern  Skies, 

A  Heap  of  Paper,  once  by  Britain  made 

The  Life  of  Commerce,  Agriculture,  Trade  ; 

The  Sign  of  Wealth,  and  all  that  Wealth  could  grant ; 

The  Friend  of  Man,  the  Antidote  of  Want ! 

Tho'  by  Rebellion  now  entomb'd  awhile, 
This  feeming  lifelefs  Heap  again  mall  fmile ; 
Again  revive — exert  her  native  Fire* — 
And  mall  with  Britain  flourifh  or  expire ! 


ODE 

FOR  THE   YEAR    1778. 

[Printed  from  a  contemporaneous  Manufcript,  and  believed  to 
have  been  written  by  Mr.  STANSBURY.] 

WHEN  rival  nations,  great  in  arms, 
Great  in  power,  in  glory  great, 
Fill  the  world  with  loud  alarms, 

And  breathe  a  temporary  hate : 
The  hoftile  florins  but  rage  awhile, 

And  the  tir'd  conteft  ends. 
But  ah  !   how  hard  to  reconcile 
The  foes  who  once  were  friends. 

Each 


32  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Each  hafty  word,  each  look  unkind. 
Each  diftant  hint,  that  feems  to  mean 

A  fomething  lurking  in  the  mind 
That  almoft  longs  to  lurk  unfeen ; 

Each  fhadow  of  a  made  offends 

Th'  embittered  foes  who  once  were  friends. 

That  Pow'r  alone,  who  fram'd  the  Soul, 
And  bade  the  fprings  of  paffion  play, 

Can  all  their  jarring  firings  controul ; 
And  form,  on  difcord,  concord's  fway. 

'Tis  He  alone,  whofe  breath  of  love 

Did  o'er  the  world  of  waters  move — 

Whofe  touch  the  mountain  bends — 

Whofe  word  from  darknefs  call'd  forth  light ; 

Tis  He  alone  can  reunite 

The  foes  who  once  were  friends. 

To  Him,  O  Britain  !   bow  the  knee. 
His  awful,  his  auguft  decree, 

Ye  rebel  tribes  adore  ! 
Forgive  at  once  and  be  forgiven : 
Ope  in  each  breaft  a  little  heaven ; 

And  difcord  is  no  more  ! 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  33 


A  PASTORAL  SONG. 

[By  Mr.  STANSBURY,  and  purporting  to  have  been  written  at 
Mr,  Smith's  in  the  Summer  of  1778.] 

WHEN  War  with  its  bellowing  Sound 
Pervades  each  once  happy  retreat, 
And  Friendfhip  no  longer  is  found 

With  thofe  who  her  praifes  repeat ; 
The  good  from  the  crowd  may  retire. 

And  follow  fweet  Peace  to  the  Grove 
Where  Virtue  rekindles  her  fire, 
And  raifes  an  altar  to  Love. 

There  bleft  with  a  fociable  few — 

The  few  that  are  juft  and  fincere — 
We  bid  the  ambitious  adieu, 

And  drop  them,  in  pity,  a  tear. 
We  grieve  at  the  fury  and  rage 

Which  burn  in  the  breafts  of  our  foes, 
We  fain  would  that  fury  afluage ; 

We  dare  not  that  fury  oppofe. 

With  Peace  and  fimplicity  bleft, 

No  troubles  our  pleafures  annoy  : 
We  quaff  the  pure  ftream  with  a  zeft 

The  temp'rate  alone  can  enjoy. 
Thus  innocent,  chearful  and  gay 

The  fwift-fleeting  moments  fecure: 
An  age  would  feem  fhort  as  a  day 

With  pleafures  as  fimple  and  pure. 

5  A 


34  ^he  Loyal  Verfes 

A  SONG  FOR  THE  TIMES. 

1778. 

[By  JOSEPH  STANSBURY.  This  piece  is  a  clofe  paraphrafe 
of  Plato9 s  Advice  (Aikin  on  Song-writing,  ed.  1810,  p.  340), 
which  itjelf  was  an  alteration  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Pilkington's 
Jong,  beginning,  "  Why,  Lycidas,  Jhould  man  be  vain  ?"  The 
allufions  are  eajily  underjtood.  In  1777,  Congress  had  rejblved 
that  the  Jlars  and  jlripes  Jhould  conjlitute  our  flag  ;  and  the  treaty 
of  alliance  with  France  of  February  6th,  1778,  had  injpired  the 
Whigs  of  America  with  the  utmqji  gratitude  and  confidence.] 

SAYS  Cato,  why  fhould  Man  be  vain, 
Since  bounteous  Heav'n  prefcribes  his  dates? 
Or  feek  with  fo  much  fruitlefs  pain 

To  form  thefe  independent  States  ? 
Can  ftriped  Flags  with  Stars  beftrown, 
Or  naked  Wretches  dragg'd  to  War, 
Can  upftart  Honors  e'er  atone 

The  pangs  of  Guilt  or  fierce  Defpair  ? 

The  Merchant's  plan,  the  Farmer's  toil, 

That  raif'd  our  Wealth  and  Fame  fo  high 
And  made  our  Plains  like  Britain's  fmile, 

In  Duft  without  Diftinction  lie. 
Go,  fearch  for  Gold  the  public  Cheft, 

Where  once  abundance  heap'd  her  ftore — 
Our  Wealth  is  Paper  at  the  beft  ; 

And  all  its  Credit  is  no  more. 

What  tho'  the  Frenchman  crowns  the  fcene, 
And  we  mifcall  him  cc  Mankind's  Friend;" 

Not  all  his  pow'r  can  Rebels  fcreen — 
Rebellion's  drawing  near  her  end. 

Shot 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  35 

Shot  like  a  Meteor  thro'  the  Skies 

It  fpread  awhile  a  baleful  Train  : 
But  now,  by  Jove's  command  it  dies 

And  melts  to  common  Air  again. 


TO  SIR  JAMES  WALLACE. 

[Thefe  verfes  appear  in  Robertfon's  Royal  Pennfylvania 
Gazette,  March  24th,  1778;  and  are  there  credited  to  a  New  York 
newspaper.  Their  author  is  faid  to  have  been  Dr.  ODELL.SO] 

FYE  !   fye  !   Sir  James  !   it  cruel  is 
Of  the  old  Dutchman  to  make  prize. 
Tho',  on  enquiry,  you  may  find 
It  was  for  good  King  Cong,  defigned, 
Do'ft  think  it  is  an  honeft  job 
This  Mify  bunch  of  Kings  to  rob  ?31 
The  Wine  they  want  to  cheer  their  fpirits : 
The  Cordage  to  reward  their  merits : 
Tea's  now  no  more  a  curfed  plant; 
It  now  has  Virtue — which  they  want* 
Their  Linen  and  their  Silks  return — 
They're  all  in  rags ;   their  garments  torn ! 
Yet  e'en  of  rags  nigh  deftitute — 
The  bullion  which  their  friends  recruit. 
Tho'  by  Experiment^  you  find 
Their  Bark  is  Jefuits,  refcind  : 
And  I  dare  tell  you,  free  as  wink, 
Detain  their  Salt,  they  then  muft  ftink : 
Or,  if  you  mean  at  all  to  fave, 
Their  Brandy  let  the  Varlets  have.33 


36  The  Loyal  Verfes 


THE  CHURCH-AND-KING  CLUB. 

[Written   by  STANSBURY,    apparently   in    the    latter  part  of 
1778,  for  a  fejlive  meeting  of  a  loyal  ajjbciation.34] 

COME,  honeft  Tories,  a  truce  with  your  Politics; 
Hoc  age  tells  you  in  Latin  as  much  : 
Drink  and  be  merry  and  —  a  Melancholy,  nix  ! 
'Tis  de  fame  ting  do  I  fpeaks  it  in  Dutch. 
If  old  Diogenes  lov'd  altercation, 

Had  he,  fir,  a  drop  of  good  Wine  in  his  Tub  ? 
Mirth  and  Good-humour  is  our  occupation  : 

Let  this  be  the  Rule  of  the  Church-and-King  Club. 

Well  do  we  know  the  Adelphi  s  mifcarriages, 
And  the  difafters  of  Johnny  Burgoyne  ; 

As  to  Beef-Stakes,  no  good  fellow  difparages 
One  who  in  battle  finds  leifure  to 


Congo  pretends  (O  good  Lord,  what  a  Fibber  'tis  !) 
Now  to  fee!  bold,  and  to  fear  no  mifchance. 

As  well  might  he  fay  that  he  fights  for  their  liberties, 
Whom  he  hath  fold  in  a  mortgage  to  France  !36 

Soon  mall  you  fee  a  rebellious  minority 

Blum  for  the  part  they  have  acted  fo  long  ; 

Britain  mall  roufe  and  regain  her  authority  : 
Come  then,  a  Bumper,  and  call  t'other  Song. 

If  old  Diogenes  lov'd  altercation,  &c. 

CHURCH 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  37 

CHURCH  AND  KING. 

[Written  by  JOSEPH  STANSBURY  circa  January,  1779.] 

IN  days  of  yore  when,  free  and  unconfm'd, 
Man  rov'd  at  large,  and  his  own  Will  was  law, 
No  ties  reftrain'd  his  felfifh  favage  Mind ; 
The  Mighty  kept  the  Weak  in  flavifh  awe. 
Till  fome  fagacious  Soul,  pervading  thro'  the  whole, 

To  Harmony  reduc'd  each  jarring  firing; 
And  now  the  tuneful  Band  obeys  the  Matter's  hand, 
While  Echo  founds  refponfive  Church  and  King! 

In  thefe,  our  vain  and  motley  modern  times, 
When  Whim,  not  Reafon  blindly  leads  the  way; 
And  Virtue's  varnifh  covers  o'er  our  crimes, 
Abhorrent  to  the  honeft  face  of  Day ; 
Now  Freedom  ftrikes    the  Lyre,    and    vainly  would 
infpire 

Celeftial  Ardor  to  each  broken  String : 
But  we  defpife  the  Foe,  and  by  Experience  know 

No  Harmony's  compleat  without  Church  and  King. 

Tho'  Rage  vindictive  Meafures  would  infpire, 

And  hurl  promiscuous  Ruin  far  and  wide ; 

Yet  Mercy  checks  the  Britifh  Hero's  fire 

And  Pity  gently  pours  her  foftening  tide. 

By  Fate's  fupreme  Decree  this  happy  Year  mall  fee 

The  Royal  Standard  ev'ry  Straggler  bring, 
Like  Sheep,  into  the  Fold  from  which  they  thoughtlefs 
ftroll'd, 

To  join  in  lafting  Chorus  of  Church  and  King. 

Then 


38  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Then,  let  each  firm  and  trufty  loyalHeart 

Relate  with  glee  his  tale  of  fuff 'ring  o'er ; 

And  think  with  pride,  he  bravely  play'd  his  part 

And  reach'd  triumphant  the  long  wim'd  for  more. 

The  wreath  let  Victory  twine,  immortal  and  divine ; 

The  Laurel  and  the  Bay  let  Fame  now  bring : 
While  Time  (hall  hobble  round,   all  Pleafures   (hall 
abound, 

And  the  Virtues  and  Graces  crown  Church  and  King* 


TO  PEACE. 

[From  the  Manufcripts  of  JOSEPH  STANSBURY.] 

OCOME,  light  borne  on  eaftern  gales, 
And  bid  our  forrows  ceafe : 
With  flow'rets  crown  our  fmiling  Vales 
Thou  gentle  Cherub  Peace  ! 
Efface  the  horrid  marks  of  War ; 
Each  private  Grudge  remove  ; 
With  Plenty  load  the  ruftic's  Car, 
And  fill  the  Land  with  Love. 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  39 


THE  TOWN  MEETING. 

[This  clever  but  bitter  piece  was  written  by  JOSEPH  STANSBURY, 
and  firft  publifhe.d  at  New  York  in  Rivington's  Royal  Gazette, 
No.  286;  June  26th,  1779:  under  the  title  of  An  Hlftorical 
Ballad  of  the  Proceedings  at  Philadelphia,  24-tb  and  2$th  May, 
*779»  by  a  Loyalifl  who  happened  to  pafs  through  the  City  at  that 
Time,  on  his  way  from  the  Southward  to  New  York.  It  is  here 
printed  from  the  text  in  Rivington,  collated  with  jeveral  contem 
poraneous  manuscript  copies. 3?] 

CANTO    FIRST. 

TWAS  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  May, 
A  pleafant,  warm,  fun-friiny  day, 
Militia  folks  paraded 
With  colours  fpread,  with  cannon  too ; 
Such  loud  huzzas,  fuch  martial  mew ; 
I  thought  the  town  invaded ! 

But  when,  on  clofer  look,  I  fpied 
The  Speaker  march  with  gallant  ftride, 

I  knew  myfelf  miftaken  : 
For  he,  on  Trenton's  well-fought  day, 
To  Burlington  miftook  his  way, 

And  fairly  fav'd  his  bacon.38 

With  him  a  number  more  appear'd 

Whofe  names  their  Corporals  never  heard — 

To  mufter-rolls  a  ftranger : 
To  fave  their  fines  they  took  the  Gun ; 
Determined  with  the  firft  to  run 

On  any  glimpfe  of  danger. 

The 


40  The  Loyal  Verfes 

The  great  MClenachan  beftrode 

His  prancing  horfe,  and  fiercely  rode : 

And  faith,  he  had  good  reafon  ! 
For  he  was  told  that,  to  his  forrow, 
He,  with  a  number  more,  tomorrow 

Should  be  confined  in  prifon.39 

'Tis  faid,  fome  fpeculating  job 
Of  his  had  fo  inflam'd  the  mob 

That  they  were  grown  unruly ; 
And,  fwearing  "by  the  Eternal  God" 
Such  villains  now  mould  feel  the  rod, 

Refolv'd  to  "  come  on  coolly." 

The  People's  Majefty — of  Laws 
The  proper  end,  the  only  caufe  — 

Now  fhone  in  all  its  glory  !40 
— Morris  the  wife  ;   Arnold  the  brave  ; 
The  double  Mafon ;   Wiflar  grave — 

Confounded  with  the  Tory  !41 

Nor  age,  nor  wealth,  nor  rank,  nor  birth 
Avail'd  with  thefe  true  fons  of  earth, 

The  offfpring  of  the  Valley  : 
For  all  the  lore  of  ages  paft 
What  car'd  the  Statefman  with  his  Laft,42 

Or  Hero  of  the  Alley? 

Cover'd  with  fweat,  with  bawling  hoarfe, 
At  clofe  of  day  no  tired  horfe 

More  gladly  reach'd  his  home. 
Each  doft  his  oaken  civic  crown  :43 
Firft  took  a  dram — then  laid  him  down 

And  dream'd  of  joys  to  come. 


CANTQ 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  4 1 

CANTO    SECOND. 

Now  Titan  raif  'd  his  flaming  head, 
And  drowfy  Centinels  to  bed 

Retir'd  from  irkfome  duty  : 
For  they  were  plac'd,  as  it  behov'd, 
To  watch  if  Tory  Goods  were  mov'd, 

That  they  might  mare  the  booty. 

The  Mob  tumultuous  inftant  feize 
With  venom'd  rage  on  whom  they  pleafe; 

The  People  cannot  err! 
Can  it  be  wrong,  in  Freedom's  caufe, 
To  tread  down  juftice,  order,  laws, 

When  all  the  mob  concur  ? 

But  now,  thro'  Mitchell's  brazen  throat, 
Faction  with  loud,  abufive  note 

Proclaimed  a  Grand  Town  Meeting  : 
Where  printer's  devils,  barber's  boys,44 
Apprentice  lads,  exprefs  their  joys 

The  Council  Members  greeting. 

Each  vagabond  from  whipping  poft,45 
Or  ftranger  flranded  on  the  coaft,46 

May  here  reform  the  State: 
The  Porter  Will**  and  Shad-roe  Jack±* 
And  Pompey-like  McKean,  in  black,49 

Decide  a  People's  fate. 

The  Trained  Bands  of  Germantown 
With  Clubs  and  Bayonets  came  down, 

And  fwell'd  the  motley  train  ; 
Refolv'd  to  change,  like  him  of  old, 
Old  rags  and  lampblack50  into  Gold, 

Or  Chaos  bring  again. 

6  And 


42  The  Loyal  Verfes 

And  now  the  State-houfe  yard  was  full, 
And  Orators  fo  grave,  fo  dull, 

Appear'd  upon  the  ftage : 
But  all  was  riot,  noife,  difgrace ; 
And  Freedom's  fons  thro'  all  the  place 

In  bloody  frays  engage. 

Sagacious  Matlack^1  ftrove  in  vain 

To  pour  his  fenfe  in  Dutchmen's  brain, 

With  ev'ry  art  to  pleafe  : 
Obferv'd   "that  as  their  Money  fell. 
"  Like  Lucifer,  to  loweft  Hell, 

<c  Tho'  fwift,  yet  by  degrees  — 

"  So  mould  it  rife,  and  goods  fhould  fall 
<c  Month  after  month,  and  one  and  all 

"Would  buy  as  cheap  as  ever; 
"  That  they  loft  all,  who  grafp'd  too  much"- 
(This  Colonel  Bull^  explain'd  in  Dutch), 

—  But  fruitlefs  each  endeavour. 

With  folemn  phiz  and  action  flow, 
Arofe  the  Chairman,  Koberdeauf^ 

And  made  this  humane  motion : 
c  That  Tories,  with  their  brats  and  wives. 
Should  fly,  to  fave  their  wretched  lives, 

From  Sodom  into — Gofhen.'54 

He  central  flood,  and  all  the  ground 
With  people  cover' d,  him  furround ; 

And  thence  it  came  to  pafs   - 
That,  as  he  fpoke  with  zeal  upon't, 
He  turn'd  his  face  to  thofe  in  front; 

To  thofe  behind, 


This 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  43 

This  gave  offence — his  voice  was  drown'd. 
He  fhould  have  fhown  his  face  all  round, 

Like  whirligig  in  focket: 
Or,  if  that  did  his  art  furpafs, 
He  fhould  at  leaft  have  ta'en 

And  put  it  in  his  pocket.55 

Then  Hutchinjon^  that  great  bull-calf — 
A  gander  has  more  brains  by  half — 57 

In  croaking,  froglike  note 
Approv'd  the  motion,  and  demands 
The  People's  fenfe,  by  mew  of  hands, 

To  fave  or  damn  the  vote. 

All  raif 'd  their  hands,  with  mighty  burft 

-J  O         J 

Of  loud  acclaim — The  cafe  reverf'd, 

All  lift  their  hands  again  ! 
Blue  Bayard  grinn'd — that  long-ear'd  afs — 
With  mobs  he  faw  it  was  a  farce 

To  reafon  or  explain. 


But  thoughtful  Rujh$*  and  artful 
And  Bryan^®  too  much  vex'd  to  laugh, 

Were  fill'd  with  grief  and  pity ; 
And  foon  difmiff'd  the  Rabble  Rout : 
Concluding  what  they  were  about 

With  chuiing  a  Committee. 

Hoping  to  get  them  more  in  tune 
Before  the  twenty-fifth  of  June, 

Which  was  the  chofen  day 
For  them  to  meet  by  found  of  Drum ; 
Unlefs  the  Enemy  fhould  come 

And  make  them  run  away. 

To 


44  The  Loyal  Verfes 

To  tell  their  Tale,  away  they  fpeed 
To  their  'prime  mover,  Jojeph  Reed, 

cc  The  virtuous  andjublime!" 
So  virtuous,  that  he  cheats  his  friends, 
Sublimely  cheats  to  gain  his  ends ; 

And  glories  in  the  crime. 

Ambition  is  his  darling  theme : 
Integrity  an  idle  dream 

That  vulgar  minds  may  awe. 
At  home,  abroad,  with  friend  or  wife, 
In  public  or  in  private  life, 

The  tyrant's  will  is  law. 

Of  deep  refentments,  wicked,  bold, 
The  thirft  of  Blood,  of  Power,  of  Gold, 

Poffefs  alternate  fway  : 
And  John/tone's  bribe  had  furely  won 
Rebellion's  pale-fac'd  matchlefs  fon, 

Had  Mammon  rul'd  that  day.61 

But  time  would  fail  me  to  rehearfe 
In  my  poor  limping  doggrel  verfe, 

His  character  divine: 
Suffice  it  that  in  Dunlap's  page, 
Drawn  by  himfelf,  from  age  to  age 

It  ihall  with  fplendor  mine  !62 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  45 

THE  CONGRATULATION. 

&  iJoem. 
D/V  £0»z,  boni  quid  •porto. — TERENCE. 

[Written  by  Rev.  Dr.  ODELL,  on  occajion  of  the  failure  of  the 
great  expectations  entertained  by  the  Americans  from  the  pre- 
Jence  in  our  waters  of  D'EJlaing's  fleet  during  the  years  1778  and 
1779.  This  piece  appears  to  have  been  very  popular  at  the 
period,  being  printed  at  New  York  in  Rivington's  Royal  Gazette 
of  November  6th,  1779;  and  again  in  the  Supplement  of  No 
vember  24th.63] 

JOY  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  : 
The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd ! 
In  vain  has  [Franklin's]  artifice  been  tried, 
And  Louis  fwell'd  with  treachery  and  pride : 
Who  reigns  fupreme  in  heav'n  deception  fpurns, 
And  on  the  author's  head  the  mifchief  turns. 
What  pains  were  taken  to  procure  D'Eftaing! 
His  fleet's  difperf'd,  and  Congrefs  may  go  hang. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold: 

The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 

Heav'ns  King  fends  forth  the  hurricane  and  ftrips 

Of  all  their  glory  the  perfidious  mips. 

His  Minifters  of  Wrath  the  florm  direct ; 

Nor  can  the  Prince  of  Air  his  French  protect. 

Saint    George,    Saint    David    fhow'd    themfelves   true 

hearts ; 

Saint  Andrew  and  Saint  Patrick  topp'd  their  parts. 
With  right  Eolian  puffs  the  wind  they  blew ; 
Crack  went  the  mafts ;   the  fails  to  fhivers  flew. 
Such  honeft  Saints  mall  never  be  forgot ; 
Saint  Dennis,  and  Saint  Tammany,  go  rot.64 

Joy 


46  T'he  Loyal  Verfes 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold ; 

The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 

Old  Satan  holds  a  council  in  mid-air ; 

Hear  the  black  Dragon  furious  rage  and  fwear — 

— Are  thefe  the  triumphs  of  my  Gallic  friends  ? 

How  will  you  ward  this  blow,  my  trufty  fiends  ? 

What  remedy  for  this  unlucky  job  ? 

What  art  fhall  raife  the  fpirits  of  the  mob  ? 

Fly  fwift,  ye  fure  fupporters  of  my  realm. 

Ere  this  ill-news  the  rebels  overwhelm. 

Invent,  fay  any  thing  to  make  them  mad ; 

Tell  them  the  King — No,  Dev'ls  are  not  fo  bad; 

The  dogs  of  Congrefs  at  the  King  let  loofe ; 

But  ye,  brave  Dev'ls,  avoid  fuch  mean  abufe. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  : 

The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 

What  thinks  Sir  Wafhington  of  this  mifchance ; 

Blames  he  not  thofe,  who  put  their  truft  in  France  ? 

A  broken  reed  comes  pat  into  his  mind : 

Egypt  and  France  by  rufhes  are  defined, 

Bafeft  of  Kingdoms  underneath  the  ikies, 

Kingdoms  that  could  not  profit  their  allies. 

How  could  the  tempeft  play  him  fuch  a  prank  ? 

Blank  is  his  profpecl,  and  his  vifage  blank : 

Why  from  Weft-Point  his  armies  has  he  brought  ? 

Can  nought  be  done  ? — fore  fighs  he  at  the  thought. 

Back  to  his  mountains  Wafhington  may  trot : 

He  take  this  city— yes,  when  Ice  is  hot. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold: 
The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 
Ah,  poor  militia  of  the  Jerfey  State, 
Your  hopes  are  bootlefs,  you  are  come  too  late. 

Your 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  47 

Your  four  hours  plunder  of  New-York  is  fled. 
And  grievous  hunger  haunts  you  in  its  ilead. 
Sorrow  and  fighing  feize  the  Yankee  race, 
When  the  brave  Briton  looks  them  in  the  face  : 
The  brawny  Heflian,  the  bold  Refugee, 
Appear  in  arms,  and  lo  !   the  rebels  flee ; 
Each  in  his  bowels  griping  fpankue  feels; 
Each  drops  his  haverfack,  and  trufts  his  heels. 
Scamp'ring  and  fcouring  o'er  the  fields  they  run, 
And  here  you  find  a  fword,  and  there  a  gun. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  ; 

The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 

The  doleful  tidings  Philadelphia  reach, 

And  Duffield65  cries-— The  wicked  make  a  breach  ! 

Members  of  Congrefs  in  confufion  meet, 

And  with  pale  countenance  each  other. greet. 

—  No  comfort,  brother  ?  —  Brother,  none  at  all. 

Fall'n  is  our  tower;   yea,  broken  down  our  wall. 

Oh  brother  !   things  are  at  a  dreadful  pafs  : 

Brother,  we  finn'd  in  going  to  the  Mafs. 

The  Lord,  who  taught  our  fingers  how  to  fight, 

For  this  denied  to  curb  the  tempeft's  might : 

Our  paper  coin  refuf  'd  for  flour  we  fee, 

And  lawyers  will  not  take  it  for  a  fee. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  : 
The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 
What  cauf 'd  the  French  from  Parker's  fleet  to  fteal  ? 
They  wanted  thirty  thoufand  cafks  of  meal. 
Where  are  they  now — can  mortal  man  reply? 
Who  finds  them  out  mutt  have  a  Lynx's  eye. 
Some  place  them  in  the  ports  of  Chefapeak ; 
Others  account  them  bound  to  Martinique ; 

Some 


48  'The  Loyal  Verfes 

Some  think  to  Bofton  they  intend  to  go"; 
And  fome  fuppofe  them  in  the  deep  below. 
One  thing  is  certain,  be  they  where  they  will, 
They  keep  their  triumph  moft  exceeding  flill. 
They  have  not  even  Pantagruel's  luck. 
Who  conquer'd  two  old  women  and  a  duck.66 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold: 

The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 

How  long  mall  the  deluded  people  look 

For  the  French  fquadron  moor'd  at  Sandy  Hook  ? 

Of  all  their  hopes  the  comfort  and  the  flay, 

This  vile  deceit  at  length  muft  pafs  away. 

What  impofition  can  be  thought  on  next, 

To  cheer  their  partizans,  with  doubt  perplex' d  ? 

Dollars  on  dollars  heap'd  up  to  the  fkies, 

Their  value  finks  the  more,  the  more  they  rife ; 

Bank  notes  of  bankrupts,  ftruck  without  a  fund, 

Puff'd  for  a  feafon,  will  at  laft  be  fhunn'd. 

Call  forth  invention,  ye  renown'd  in  guile ; 

New  falfehoods  frame  in  matter,  and  in  ftyle  ; 

Send  fome  enormous  fiction  to  the  prefs  ; 

Again  prepare  the  circular  addrefs  ; 

With  lies,  with  nonfenfe,  keep  the  people  drunk: 

For  mould  they  once  reflect,  your  power  is  funk. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  : 
The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 
The  farce  of  empire  will  be  finifh'd  foon, 
And  each  mock-monarch  dwindle  to  a  loon. 
Mock-money  and  mock-ftates  fhall  melt  away, 
And  the  mock-troops  difband  for  want  of  pay. 
Ev'n  now  decifive  ruin  is  prepar'd  : 
Ev'n  now  the  heart  of  Huntington  is  fcar'd.67 

Seen 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  49 

Seen  or  unfeen,  on  earth,  above,  below, 
All  things  confpire  to  give  the  final  blow. 
Heaven  has  ten  thoufand  thunderbolts  to  dart ; 
From  Hell,  ten  thoufand  livid  flames  will  ftart ; 
Myriads  of  fwords  are  ready  for  the  field; 
Myriads  of  lurking  daggers  are  conceal'd  ; 
In  injur'd  bofoms  dark  revenge  is  nurft  : 
Yet  but  a  moment,  and  the  ftorm  mall  burft. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  : 

The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 

Now  War,  fufpended  by  the  fcorching  heat, 

Springs  from  his  tent,  and  mines  in  arms  complete. 

Now  Sicknefs,  that  of  late  made  heroes  pale, 

Flies  from  the  keennefs  of  the  northern  gale. 

Firmnefs  and  Enterprize,  united,  wait 

The  laft  command,  to  flrike  the  flroke  of  Fate. 

Now  Bofton  trembles  ;   Philadelphia  quakes  ; 

And  Carolina  to  the  center  makes. 

There  is,  whofe  councils  the  juft  moment  fcan  : 

Whofe  wifdom  meditates  the  mighty  plan  : 

He,  when  the  feafon  is  mature,  fhall  fpeak  ; 

All  Heaven  fhall  plaud  him,  and  all  Hell  fhall  fhriek. 

At  his  dread  fiat  tumult  fhall  retire ; 

Abhorr'd  rebellion  ficken  and  expire ; 

The  fall  of  Congrefs  prove  the  world's  relief; 

And  deathlefs  glory  crown  the  god-like  Chief! 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold ; 
The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd  ! 
What  now  is  left  of  Continental  brags  ? 
Taxes  unpaid,  tho'  payable  in  rags. 
What  now  remains  of  Continental  force  ? 
Battalions  mould' ring :  Wafte  without  refource. 

7  What 


50  The  Loyal  Verfes 

What  refts  there  yet  of  Continental  Sway  ? 
A  ruin'd  People,  ripe  to  difobey. 
Hate  now  of  men,  and  foon  to  be  the  Jeft ; 
Such  is  your  fate,  ye  Monfters  of  the  Weft ! 
Yet  muft  on  every  face  a  fmile  be  worn, 
While  every  breaft  with  agony  is  torn. 
Hopelefs  yourfelves,  yet  hope  you  muft  impart, 
And  comfort  others  with  an  aching  heart. 
Ill-fated  they  who,  loft  at  home,  muft  boaft 
Of  help  expected  from  a  foreign  coaft : 
How  wretched  is  their  lot,  to  France  and  Spain 
Who  look  for  fuccour,  but  who  look  in  vain. 

Joy  to  great  Congrefs,  joy  an  hundred  fold  : 
The  grand  cajolers  are  themfelves  cajol'd ! 
Courage,  my  boys  ;   difmifs  your  chilling  fears  : 
Attend  to  me,  I'll  put  you  in  your  geers. 
Come,  I'll  inftruct  you  how  to  advertize 
Your  miffing  friends,  your  hide-and-feek  Allies. 
O  YES  !  —  If  any  man  alive  will  bring 
News  of  the  fquadron  of  the  Chriftian  King  : 
If  any  man  will  find  out  Count  D'Eftaing, 
With  whofe  fcrub  actions  both  the  Indies  rang: 
If  any  man  will  afcertain  on  oath 
What  has  become  of  Monfieur  de  la  Mothe:68 
Whoever  thefe  important  points  explains, 
Congrefs  will  nobly  pay  him  for  his  pains, 
Of  pewter  dollars,  what  both  hands  can  hold, 
A  thimble-full  of  plate,  a  mite  of  gold; 
The  lands  of  fome  big  Tory  he  mall  get, 
And  ftart  a  famous  Colonel  en  brevet  : 
And  laft  to  honour  him  (we  fcorn  to  bribe) 
We'll  make  him  chief  of  the  Oneida  Tribe!69 


THE 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  5  1 

THE  FEU  DE  JOIE. 


Urgetur  pugna  Congreffus  iniqua.  —  VIRGIL. 

[Written  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  ODELL,  and  printed  here  from 
Rivington's  Royal  Gazette  of  November  24th,  1779.  The 
gallant  and  JucceJJTul  defence  of  Savannah  by  the  Britijh  under 
Prevojl,  Maitland,  and  Moncrieffe,  and  the  final  repulje  of  the 
Allies  led  by  Lincoln  and  D'Ejlaing,  on  the  Qth  of  Oclober,  1779, 
occajioned  great  exultation  in  the  Britijh  army  at  New  York, 
and  gave  origin  to  theje  verjes.  Their  title  relates  to  the  cujiom 
of  celebrating  any  vidory  or  other  occajion  of  triumph  in  the 
American  (and  perhaps  in  -the  Britijh)  Army,  by  a  general  dij~- 
charge  of  firearms.] 

LET  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  zfeu  de  joie  ! 
Hail,  Congrefs,  hail  !   magnificent,  renown'd  : 
Rejoice,  be  merry  ;   the  loft  Sheep  is  found  ! 
You,  Congrefs,  knew  him  by  his  graceful  bleat. 
We  only  know  him  by  his  foul  defeat. 
Great  Bell  Wether,  he  led  his  fcabby  flock 
In  apt  conjunction  with  the  rebel  ftock. 
He  came,  he  pufh'd,  he  fled  with  half  his  train; 
While  fav'd  Savannah  fwell'd  with  heaps  of  flain. 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
What  awful  (ilence  thro'  the  land  prevailed 
Since  Count  D'Eftaing  from  St.  Domingo  fail'd. 
No  voice,  no  breath,  no  found,  no  rumour  flew, 
Left  Parker  ihould  with  all  his  fleet  purfue.70 

No 


52  'The  Loyal  Verfes 

No  whifper ;   no  report — but  all  was  mum, 
Left  reinforcements  from  New  York  mould  come. 
To  catch  the  Britifh  napping  was  their  thought : 
Now,  by  my  faith,  a  Tartar  have  they  caught. 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
The  French,  entangled  in  a  dreadful  fcrape, 
From  the  Weft-Indies  made  a  fine  efcape. 
Arriv'd  upon  the  coaft,  the  fcene  was  chang'd : 
Uncivil  Winds  their  armament  derang'd ; 
Their  firft  reception  was  exceeding  rough ; 
Howe'er  they  landed:    landed  fure  enough. 
Afhore,  they  vapour  and  defy  the  Storm, 
And  foon  with  Lincoln  s  troops  a  junction  form- 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
Plunder's  the  Word  ;   but  Plunder  foon  is  o'er. 
Rob  folks  of  all,  and  you  can  rob  no  more. 
Live  ftock  or  dead,  they  capture  and  condemn  : 
Come  Whig,  come  Tory,  'tis  the  fame  to  them. 
The  Continental  gentry  ftand  aghaft 
To  fee  their  good  Allies  devour  fo  faft. 
Are  thefe  the  Troops  of  Louis,  Friend  of  Men  ? 
They're  rather  Tygers,  loofen'd  from  a  Den. 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
The  fworn  confederates  manfully  advance 
In  queft  of  Glory  and  the  Good  of  France. 
Go  fummon,  Trumpeter,  yon  haughty  Town  : 
Bid  them  furrender  to  the  Gallic  Crown.71 
What,  are  they  reftiff?  —  fcorn  they  to  obey  ? 
Pefte — we'll  compel  them  with  what  fpeed  we  may. 

Erect 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  53 

Erect  your  batteries,  Engineers,  in  hafte : 
Mortars  and  Cannons  in  the  Works  be  plac'd. 
Upon  the  right  my  valiant  French  (hall  load  ; 
You  Continentals,  line  th'  Augufta  road. 
Moncrieffe  feems  aftive,  but  he'll  foon  be  fick, 
When  {hells  and  balls  and  bullets  rattle  thick.72 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 

And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie ! 

The  brave  D'Eftaing  encourages  his  troops, 

And  promifes  good  ftore  of  drams  and  foups. 

Work  on,  work  on,  ye  jolly  Pioneers. 

The  town  mall  foon  be  knock'd  about  their  ears. 

Meantime,  flncl  guard  about  the  camp  we'll  keep, 

And  neither  in  nor  out  a  moufe  mail  creep. 

But  whence  arifes,  in  the  dead  of  night, 

This  horrid  noife  to  fill  us  with  affright  ? 

Are  all  the  devils  got  loofe  ?  —  D'Eftaing  cries  out. 

—  No,  fir,  'tis  Maitland  puts  us  to  the  rout.73 

Stop  him  this  inftant !  —  Sir,  he  won't  be  ftopt. 

Chop  him  —  En  verite,  ourfelves  are  chopt. 

The  town  he  {hall  not  enter,  I  declare, 

— True,  noble  Count,  for  he's  already  there. 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie ! 
The  Gallic  Chief,  his  batteries  complete, 
Conceives  the  Britifh  humbled  at  his  feet. 
Full  thirty  cannons,  mortars  half  a  fcore ; 
No  doubt  Prevoft  muft  tremble  at  their  roar. 
They  open,  and  proclaim  Savannah's  doom  ; 
Hide  day  with  fmoke,  with  flafhes  night  illume. 
Now  whiftle  through  the  air  the  pond'rous  plumbs ; 
Now  mount  aloft,  and  now  defcend  the  bombs. 
IncefTant  thunders  rend  the  frighted  fky, 
And  bluffs  and  hillocks  to  the  found  reply. 

Let 


54  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ^ 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
What  great  effect  has  all  this  fire  produced  ? 
Here  falls  an  houfe,  and  there  a  turf  is  loof'd. 
What,  no  flain  warriors  tumbled  in  the  trench  ? 
Yes,  by  the  Mafs  : — abundance  of  the  French! 
No  cannon  yet  difmounted  can  you  fee  ? 
Oh  yes — a  number  marked  with  Fleurs  de  Lys. 
Where  are  the  Yankees  ? — where  they  were  at  firft. 
What  have  we  got  then  ? — we  have  got  the  worft. 
How  can  this  be  ?     Six  days,  and  nothing  done  ! 
The  cafe  is  plain — the  foe  gives  three  for  one. 
Our  thirty  cannon  have  no  chance  at  all, 
Moncrieffe  falutes  with  ninety  from  the  wall. 
Pize  on't— this  way  of  fiege  is  mofl  abfurd  : 
We'll  have  no  more  on't — Storm  fhall  be  the  word  ! 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 

And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 

The  Veterans  of  France  have  form'd  the  line, 

Expecting  daybreak  and  the  promif 'd  fign. 

The  Rebel  Bands  are  marmaU'd  in  array, 

Boaftful  and  loud,  and  covetous  of  prey. 

What  held  the  Town  of  beauty,  wealth,  and  power, 

Was  all  devoted  in  that  cruel  hour. 

Sore  figh'd  the  Mother,  for  her  Babes  afraid  ; 

And,  anxious  for  herfelf,  the  blooming  Maid. 

The  Merchant  trembled  for  his  crouded  ftore : 

One  dreadful  paufe — and  all  perhaps  is  gore  ! 

So  to  the  rock  Andromeda  lay  bound, 

When  rofe  the  Monfter  from  the  vaft  profound : 

But  foon  her  brave  Deliverer  fac'd  the  foe  ; 

No  matter  whether  Perjeus  or  Prevoft. 

His  winged  courfer  gallant  he  beftrode ; 

He  look'd  a  Hero,  and  he  mov'd  a  God ! 

He 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  55 

He  met  the  Monfter  in  his  fierce  attack, 
And  to  old  Ocean  headlong  drove  him  back. 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 

And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie ! 

Lo  !   from  the  Artillery  pours  the  grand  falute : 

Then  Silence  flows — and  all  is  hum'd  and  mute. 

Sudden  the  drum  rebellows  ;   fwells  the  fife ; 

And  all  move  forward  to  the  mortal  ftrife. 

The  fhouting  warriors  and  the  trumpets  mrill 

The  meaneft  heart  with  martial  ardour  fill. 

With  rapid  march  advance  the  hoftile  rows, 

While  Britifh  fire  the  ranks  tremendous1  mows. 

Now  nearer  ftill  and  nearer  they  engage, 

And  War  puts  on  accumulated  rage. 

There  is  the  din  of  battle  ;   there  the  cram ; 

The  roaring  volley,  and  the  frequent  flam. 

There  animation  in  the  front  appears : 

There  charge  the  chofen  Gallic  Grenadiers. 

There,  where  each  moment  death  they  take  or  give, 

Scarce  Immortality  herfelf  could  live  ! 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
Now  Slaughter  triumphed  and  refiftlefs  ftrow'd 
With  mangled  carcafles  the  reeking  road. 
Ev'n  then,  when  blood  was  rtreaming  like  a  fount, 
Polafki  rufh'd  the  ftrong  Redoubt  to  mount. 
Again  the  grape-mot  thunders  from  the  walls : 
He  falls  —  half  hero,  half  a  fiend,  he  falls. 
Off  from  the  field  his  foldiers  bear  their  chief; 
Art  was  invok'd,  but  Art  gave  no  relief; 
Deep  in  his  groin  was  fix'd  the  deadly  wound. 
Worthlefs,  tno   brave,  a  glorious  fate  he  found. 

Such 


56  'The  Loyal  Verfes 

Such  noble  death  what  right  had  he  to  hope, 

Whofe  odius  Treafon  merited  a  Rope  ? 

Undaunted  minds  were  made  in  verfe  to  mine  ? 

But  hate  to  parricides  blots  out  the  line. 

Not  Valour's  felf  the  Traitor  can  excufe : 

Him  Truth  condemns:   him  execrates  the  Mufe.74 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 

And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 

Such  defperate  efforts  the  battalions  thin. 

Diforder  and  difmay  and  rout  begin. 

The  worn  brigades  from  fight  recoiling  fwerve  ; 

Their  courage  droops,  they  faint  in  every  nerve. 

Yet  ftill  remains  an  excellent  refource — 

Bring  to  the  charge  the  Continental  Force. 

What  ails  thefe  Braggadocios  of  the  Land  ? 

Won't  they  come  forward  ?  —  ftiff  as  Pods  they  ftand. 

Strange  petrifaction  on  their  hoft  attends. 

Deuce  take  the  fools,  they  level  at  their  friends! 

Some  angry  Demon  fure  their  fenfe  mifleads  ; 

See,  the  French  tremble,  and  their  General  bleeds, 

By  rebel  hands  (Lo  !    Providence  is  jiift) 

The  rebels'  patron  wounded  bites  the  duft.75 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 

And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 

'Tis  done  :   Confufion  fits  on  every  face ; 

Inevitable  ruin  ;   foul  difgrace. 

Now  Terror  domineers,  and  wild  Affright : 

No  hope  in  Arms  :   no  fafety  but  in  Flight. 

Now,  Britons,  Heffians  and  Provincials  pour  : 

Arreft  the  fugitives  and  bathe  in  gore. 

'Tis  done:  —  D'Eftaing  betakes  him  to  his  fhip  ; 

To  Charleftown  Yankies  thro'  the  forefts  flip. 

Go 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  57 

Go  reckon  up  thy  lofs,  amphibious  Count ; 
Mark  Fifteen  Hundred  to  the  full  amount : 
Of  wounded  and  of  killed  an  equal  train 
Left  Lincoln  weltering  on  the  bloody  plain  : 
Whilft  forty  Britons  on  the  lift  appear. 
O  Earth  confefs,  the  Hand  of  Heaven  was  here  ! 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 
And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 
Does  Lordly  Congrefs  relifh  this  defeat — 
Say,  is  it  pleafant  to  their  fouls  and  fweet  ? 
What,  both  overthrown,  America  and  France, 
By  one  fmall  fplinter  of  the  Britifh  Lance ! 
Yet  thefe  were  they,  gigantic  in  their  boaft, 
Who  fwore  to  chafe  us  from  this  Weftern  Coaft : 
Yet  thefe  were  they  who  built  flat-bottomed  boats, 
And  vow'd  to  drive  us  like  a  Flock  of  Goats. 
Unftable  as  the  fand,  their  arts  fhall  fail : 
As  water  weak,  they  never  fhall  prevail. 
Thefe,  Reuben-like,  their  parent's  couch  defile ; 
Like  Judas,  thefe  fhall  perifh  in  their  guile. 
Could  the  Sword  fpare  them,  yet  of  Heaven  accurft 
Their  very  Bowels  would  afunder  burft. 

Let  fongs  of  triumph  every  voice  employ, 

And  every  Mufe  difcharge  a  feu  de  joie  ! 

Ye  poor  deluded  owners  of  the  foil, 

For  others'  good  who  labour  and  who  toil  — 

Ye  wretches  doom'd  to  forrowful  miftake, 

Who  hunger  and  who  thirft  for  Congrefs'  fake — 

Aroufe  for  Shame  :   like  Men  your  rights  refume, 

And  fend  your  Tyrants  to  the  Land  of  Gloom. 

If  Shame  prevail  not,  ftill  let  Wifdom  plead. 

If  both  are  flighted,  Vengeance  mufl  fucceed. 

8  Your 


58  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Your  Parent  State  grows  ftronger  every  hour ; 
As  yet,  its  Mercy  far  exceeds  its  Power. 
Your  Congrefs  every  moment  weaker  grows. 
Rags  are  its  Treafure :   Honeft  Men  its  Foes. 
Its  Building  cracks,  tho'  buttreff'd  by  the  Gaul : 
It  nods,  it  makes,  it  totters  to  its  fall. 
O  fave  yourfelves  before  it  is  too  late  ! 
O  fave  your  Country  from  impending  Fate  ! 
Leave  thofe,  whom  Juftice  muft  at  length  deftroy. 
Repent,  come  over,  and  partake  our  joy. 


ODE  FOR  THE  NEW  YEAR. 

[Written  at  New  York,  January  ijl,  1780,  by  Dr.  ODELL, 
and  now  printed  from  his  Manufcript  copy.] 

WHEN  rival  Nations  firft  defcried, 
Emerging  from  the  boundlefs  Main 
This  Land  by  Tyrants  yet  untried, 
On  high  was  fung  this  lofty  ftrain  : 
Rife  Britannia  beaming  far  ! 
Rife  bright  Freedom's  morning  ftar ! 

To  diilant  Regions  unexplored 
Extend  the  bleffings  of  thy  fway ; 
To  yon  benighted  World  afford 
The  light  of  thy  all-chearing  ray  ; 
Rife  Britannia,  rife  bright  ftar  ! 
Spread  thy  radiance  wide  and  far ! 

The 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell.  59 

The  fhoots  of  Science  rich  and  fair , 
Tranfplanted  from  thy  foftering  Ifle 
And  by  thy  Genius  nurtur'd  there, 
Shall  teach  the  Wildernefs  to  fmile. 
Shine,  Britannia,  rife  and  fhine ! 
To  blefs  Mankind  the  tafk  be  thine ! 

Nor  fhall  the  Mufes  now  difdain 
To  find  a  new  Afylum  there : 
And  ripe  for  harveft  fee  the  plain, 
Where  lately  rov'd  the  prowling  Bear. 
Plume,  Britannia,  plume  thy  wing  ! 
Teach  the  favage  Wild  to  ring  ! 

From  thee  defcended,  there  the  Swain 
Shall  arm  the  Port  and  fpread  the  Sail, 
And  fpeed  his  traffick  o'er  the  Main 
With  ikill  to  brave  the  fweeping  Gale  ; 
Skill,  Britannia,  taught  by  thee, 
Unrivall'd  Emprefs  of  the  Sea  ! 

This  high  and  holy  ftrain  how  true 
Had  now  from  age  to  age  been  mown ; 
And  to  the  World's  admiring  view 
Rofe  Freedom's  tranfatlantic  throne : 
Here,  Britannia,  here  thy  fame 
Long  did  we  with  joy  proclaim. 

But  ah  !  what  frenzy  breaks  a  band 
Of  love  and  union  held  fo  dear  ! 
Rebellion  madly  makes  the  land, 
And  love  is  turn'd  to  hate  and  fear. 
Here,  Britannia,  here  at  laft 
We  feel  Contagion's  deadly  blaft. 

Thus 


60  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Thus  blind,  alas  !  when  all  is  well. 
Thus  blind  are  Mortals  here  below : 
As  when  apoftate  Angels  fell, 
Ambition  turns  our  blifs  to  woe. 
Now,  Britannia,  now  beware : 
For  other  conflicts  now  prepare  ! 

By  thee  controul'd  for  ages  part, 

See  now  half  Europe  in  array  : 

For  wild  Ambition  hopes  at  laft 

To  fix  her  long  projected  fway. 

Rife,  Britannia,  rife  again 

The  fcourge  of  haughty  France  and  Spain  ! 

The  howling  tempeft  fiercely  blows, 
And  Ocean  rages  in  the  ftorm  : 
'Tis  then  the  fearlefs  Pilot  mows 
What  Britim  courage  can  perform. 
Rule,  Britannia,  rule  the  waves 
And  ruin  all  intruding  flaves ! 


THE 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  6 1 

THE  LORDS  OF  THE  MAIN. 
TUNE  :  Nottingham  Ale. 

[Publifhed  at  New  York,  February  i6th,  1780,  in  Rivington's 
Royal  Gazette,  and  believed  to  have  been  written  by  STANSBURY. 
In  this,  as  in  the  piece  immediately  preceding,  reference  is  made 
to  the  hojtilities  between  Spain  and  England  which  had  broken 
out  in  the  pajl  Jummer.  The  other  allufions  to  Carpenter's  Hall 
at  Philadelphia,  where  Congrejs  met ;  to  Congrefs  itfelf,  and  to 
the  French  Alliance,  will  be  readily  underjtood.  The  tenth  line 
of  the  lajl  Stanza  Jeems  to  have  been  a  favorite  :  it  is  already 
ujed  by  the  poet  in  an  earlier  page  of  this  volume.] 

WHEN  Faction,   in  league  with  the  treacherous 
Gaul, 

Began  to  look  big  and  paraded  in  ftate ; 
A  meeting  was  held  at  Credulity  Hall, 

And  Echo  proclaimed  their  Ally  good  and  great  ! 
By  fea  and  by  land 
Such  wonders  are  plann'd  ; 
No  lefs  than  the  bold  Britim  Lion  to  chain  ! 
Well  hove  !  fays  Jack  Lanyard, 
French,  Congo  and  Spaniard, 
Have  at  you — remember  we're  Lords  of  the  Main  ! 

Lords  of  the  Main — aye,  Lords  of  the  Main; 
The  Tars  of  Old  England  are  Lords  of  the  Main. 

Though  party-contention  a  while  may  perplex, 

And  lenity  hold  us  in  doubtful  fufpenfe ; 
If  perfidy  roufe,  or  ingratitude  vex 

In  defiance  of  Hell  we'll  chaftife  the  offence. 
When  danger  alarms, 
'Tis  then  that  in  arms 

United 


62  "The  Loyal  Verfes 

United  we  rufh  on  the  foe  with  difdain  : 
And  when  the  ilorm  rages 
It  only  prefages 

Frefh  triumphs  to  Britons,  as  Lords  of  the  Main. 
Lords  of  the  Main — ay,  Lords  of  the  Main — 
Let  Thunder  proclaim  it,  we're  Lords  of  the  Main. 

Then  Britons,  ftrike  home — make  fure  of  your  blow  : 

The  chafe  is  in  view  ;   never  mind  a  lee-more. 
With  vengeance  overtake  the  confederate  foe : 
'Tis  now  we  may  rival  our  heroes  of  yore ! 
Brave  Anjon  and  Drake, 
Hawke,  Ruffe//  and  Blake, 

With  ardour  like  your's  we  defy  France  and  Spain  ! 
Combining  with  freafon 
They're  deaf  to  all  reafon  : 
Once  more  let  them  feel  we  are  Lords  of  the  Main. 

Lords  of  the  Main — ay,  Lords  of  the  Main  — 
The  firft-born  of  Neptune  are  Lords  of  the  Main.   ' 

Nor  are  we  alone  in  the  noble  career ; 

The  Soldier  partakes  of  the  generous  flame : 
To  glory  he  marches,  to  glory  we  fteer ; 

Between  us  we  mare  the  rich  harveft  of  fame. 
Recorded  on  high, 
Their  names  never  die, 
Of  heroes  by  fea  and  by  land  what  a  train  ! 
To  the  King,  then,  God  blefs  him  ! 
The  World  mall  confefs  him 
'  The  Lord  of  thofe  men  who  are  Lords  of  the  Main/ 

Lords  of  the  Main — ay,  Lords  of  the  Main  — 
The  Tars  of  Old  England  are  Lords  of  the  Main. 

LIBERTY. 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  63 


LIBERTY. 

['<  The  following  piece  "  fays  Rivington's  Royal  Gazette,  No. 
352,  February  1 2th,  1780,  "  is  Juppojed  to  be  written  by  a 
Loyalijl  without  the  lines."  There  is  fatiffaclory  evidence,  how 
ever,  that  Mr.  STANSBURY  was  its  author.] 

WHEN  at  firft  this  land  I  preft, 
Pleafing  rapture  fill'd  my  breaft ; 
Swains  in  carols  fweet  and  free 
Sung  the  praife  of  Liberty. 
Now  their  Halcyon  days  are  o'er; 
Fled  to  fome  more  happy  more. 
There,  from  civil  Difcord  free 
Dwells  the  Goddefs  Liberty. 

At  Bellona's  harm  alarms 
Simple  yeomen  mine  in  arms. 
Brother  flain  by  brother,  fee  ! 
Dreadful  fruits  of  Liberty. 
Law  and  order  proftrate  lie ; 
Commonwealth  is  all  the  cry. 
Tho'  we  flaves  at  prefent  be 
'Tis  all  for  glorious  Liberty. 

What  tho'  Commerce  droops  her  head, 
All  her  fons  to  deferts  fled : 
Let's  to  Clinton  bow  the  knee ; 
We're  fecure  of  Liberty. 
Wealth  propitious  fwells  our  {lore  ; 
All  our  Coffers  running  o'er ; 
Dollars  cheap  as  dirt  mall  be. 
Who  wou'd  not  fight  for  Liberty  ? 

Splendid 


64  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Splendid  honours  I  difdain : 
Crowns  of  Kings  are  lin'd  with  Pain. 
Friendship  only  give  to  me, 
Social  joys,  and  Liberty. 
Let  me  in  my  humble  fphere 
Free  from  envy,  free  from  care. 
Spend  the  days  allotted  me 
Bleft  with  Peace  and  Liberty. 


FREEDOM. 

[Collated  from  two  verjions  in  the  Manufcripts  of  Mr.  STANS- 
BURY,  and  dated  March  5th,  1780.  It  is  hardly  necejjary  to  add 
that  the  fong  is  ironical.] 

TO  Freedom  raife  the  lofty  fong. 
Sublimeft  joys  to  her  belong. 
JTis  me  that  fmooths  the  face  of  War; 
Hides  with  laurel  ev'ry  fear. 
Huzza  for  the  bleffings  of  Freedom,  oh  ! 

To  her  we  owe,  that  fix'd  as  fate 

Appears  our  independent  State ; 

Our  crowded  ports  and  growing  trade ; 

Honours  too,  which  ne'er  fhall  fade. 

Thefe,  thefe  are  the  bleffings  of  Freedom,  oh  ! 

'Tis  She  produc'd  thofe  wife  and  great 

And  honeft  men  who  rule  the  State ; 

To  meaner  trades  no  more  confined — 

Awls  and  handfaws  left  behind — 

How  great  are  the  bleffings  of  Freedom,  oh  ! 

Some 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  65 

Some  wretches  may  difgrace  the  Caufe 
(For  human  nature's  full  of  flaws) 
And  filch  away  the  public  wealth : 
Speculate— by  way  of  ftealth — 
Difgracing  the  banners  of  Freedom,  oh  ! 

The  Tories  cry  our  Paper  down  ; 
Count  forty  dollars  but  a  crown : 
For  which  we'll  tax  and  plague  them  more 
Than  Pharaoh's  flaves  in  days  of  yore; 
And  all  for  the  honour  of  Freedom,  oh  ! 

Then  fill  the  glafs  to  Fredom,  oh  ! 

Fill  up  the  glafs  to  Freedom,  oh  ! 

May  the  prefent  conteft  hold 

Till  my  Paper's  turn'd  to  Gold — 

Then,  a  fig  for  the  battle  for  Freedom,  oh  ! 


On 


66  The  Loyal  Verfes 


ON  ADMIRAL  ARBUTHNOT. 

A  PASQUINADE  STUCK  UP  AT  NEW  YORK,    AUGUST    I  2TH, 

1780. 

[This  piece  is  attributed  to  Mr.  STANSBURY,  and  is  a  fair 
example  of  the  manner  in  which  the  inertnefs  of  the  Englijh 
leaders  was  criticized  by  the  loyalijls.  It  is  preserved  in  the 
Political  Magazine,  vol.  n,  p.  291  (London,  May,  1781).  It 
refers  to  the  failure  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  plan  of  an  attack  on 
the  French  fleet  and  troops  lately  arrived  at  Rhode  IJland  by  a 
co-operation  of  the  Britijh  land  and  naval  forces  from  New 
York.  76] 

OF  Arbuthnot,  my  friend,  pray  tell  me  the  news ; 
What's  done  by  his  mips  and  their  brave  gallant 
crews  ? 

Has  the  old  Englifh  man  fhewn  old  Englifh  fpunk 
And  the  fhips  of  the  French  burnt,  taken,  or  funk  ? 

In  truth,  my  good  fir,  there  has  been  nothing  like  it. 
'Tis  eafier  to  threaten  a  blow,  than  to  ftrike  it. 
No  fhip  has  been  taken,  or  frigate,  or  lugger : 

Nor  e'en  a  poor  Frenchman  for  jacktars 

Though  this  was  a  promife  fo  folemnly  made 
When  he  call'd  on  the  failors  to  give  him  their  aid  : 
Yet  himfelf  he  has  hid  under  Gardiner's  Ifland, 
And  fwears  the  French  fhips  muft  be  now  taken  by  land. 

A 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  67 

A  PASQUINADE. 

STUCK  UP  AT  NEW  YORK  ON  THE  25TH  OF  AUGUST,  1780. 

[By  STANSBURY;  preferved  in  n  Political  Magazine,  291. 
"  The  rebels  were  then  carrying  off  forage,  and  burning  houfes  in 
Jight  of  General  Clinton."] 


H 


AS  the  Marquis  la  Fayette 
Taken  off  all  our  hay  yet  ? 
Says  Clinton  to  the  wife  heads  around  him : 
Yes,  faith,  great  Sir  Harry, 
Each  ftack  he  did  carry, 
And  likewife  the  cattle— confound  him  ! 

Befides  he  now  goes 

Juft  under  your  nofe, 
To  burn  all  the  houfes  to  cinder. 

If  that  be  his  pro] eel:, 

It  is  not  an  objecT: 
Worth  a  great  man's  attempting  to  hinder. 

For  forage  and  houfe 

I  care  not  a  loufe ; 
For  revenge  let  the  loyalifts  bellow. 

I  fwear  I'll  not  do  more 

To  keep  them  in  humour, 
Than  play  on  my  violencello. 


Since 


68  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Since  Charles  Town  is  taken, 

'Twill  fure  fave  my  bacon : 
I  can  live  a  whole  year  on  that  fame.  Sir. 

Ride  about  all  the  day  ; 

At  night,  concert  or  play ; 
So  a  fig  for  thofe  men  that  dare  blame,  Sir. 

If  growlers  complain 

I  inactive  remain, 
Will  do  nothing,  nor  let  any  others ; 

'Tis  fure  no  new  thing 

Tojerve  thus  our  King; 
Witnefs  Burgoyne  and  two  famous  Brothers ! 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  69 


A  POETICAL  EPISTLE 

FROM  JOSEPH   STANSBURY  TO   HIS  WIFE. 

[Printed  from  the  original  Manufcript,  which  is  dated  *  Satur 
day  night,  23rd  December,  1780.'  From  the  tenor  of  theje  lines, 
we  may  infer  that  Stanjbury  had  come  to  Philadelphia,  and  was 
waiting  permi[Jion  from  the  Prejident  and  Executive  Council  of 
Pennjylvania  to  return  to  New  York.  The  jocular  reference  to 
the  caufe  of  delay  may  relate  to  Francis  Hopkinfon,  Judge  of 
Admiralty,  and  the  only  Judge  at  the  time,  who  was  aljb  known 
"  as  a  Wit  and  a  Poet  bejide,"  in  the  city.  Mr.  Hopkinfon's 
witty  Letter  on  Whitewashing  may  alfo  be  alluded  to.] 

MY  Dear, 
You'll  not  wonder  I'm  almoft  in  vapours  ! 
This  mercilefs,  gracelefs  detention  of  Papers — 
When  my  head  and  my  heart  were  as  light  as  a  Cork, 
With  the  hope  of  a  fafe  and  quick  paflage  to  York — 
Is  almoft  too  much  for  a  Mortal  to  bear ! 
But  Prudence  fuggefts  we  mould  never  defpair ; 
And    Reafon   points    out   that    Good    Humour  and 

Patience 

Are  better  Companions  than  half  our  Relations  ; 
Take  off  the  rough  edge  of  illnature  and  malice 
And  make  our  dark  Prifon  as  gay  as  a  Palace. 

Tho'  kept  in  fufpenfe,  yet,  my  dear,  don't  pronounce  ill 
Of  Prefident's  views,  or  intentions  of  Council. 
Such  bafelefs  opinions  I'm  fure  you  will  alter 
When  once  you  reflect  that  a  hugeous  Defaulter, 
A  Judge,  and  a  Wit,  and  a  Poet  befide, 
For  fome  fmall  Offences  this  day  has  been  tried. 

Small 


jo  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Small   Offences  !  you   cry — yes,  my  dear — and  with 

reafon : 

For  Bribery's  nothing  compared  with  Treafon. 
And  what  was  this  bribe  ?    Why,  a  glafs  of  good  Wine, 
Which  all  men  in  office  mould  have  when  they  dine. 
Whether  paid  for  when  bought,  or  a  month  or  two  after. 
Might  furnifh  the  court  with  a  fubjecl:  for  laughter; 
Which  Judges  and  Council,  a  pack  of  fly  elves, 
Moft  wifely  determin'd  to  keep  to  themfelves  : 
Afraid  left  the  Secret  mould  'fcape  thro'  the  key-hole, 
The  method  of  changing  a  Black  to  a  Creole — 
Or,  if  the  comparifon  is  not  too  trite, 
The  Secret  of  making  a  Blackamoor  white ! 

A  Caufe  fo  important  has  made  me  lofe  one  day ;      1 

Tomorrow  muft  follow,  becaufe  it  is  Sunday ; 

And  H  eav'n  only  knows  what  will  happen  on  M  onday .  J 

Thefe  Rhymes  would  fcarce  pafs  in  a  Ring  for  a  Poefy  ; 
Yet,  pleafe  to  accept  them,  as  coming  from  Jofey. 


INVITATION. 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  7 1 


INVITATION. 

[By  JOSEPH  STANSBURY,  then  at  New  York.  Printed  from  the 
original  Manufcript,  which  is  dated  January  loth,  1781.  Thefe 
lively  lines  contain  Jbme  covert  Jatire  on  the  royal  leaders,  and 
the  encouragement  they  then  bejtowed  on  worthless  Jeceders  from 
the  American  Caufe.  A  clafs  of  arrivals  not  enumerated,  how 
ever,  by  the  poet,  is  described  in  the  Manujcripts  of  one  of  his 
friends,  aljb  a  refugee  at  this  period  in  New  York. — "Our 
little  half-demoli/hed  town  here  feems  crowded  to  the  full, 
and  almojl  every  day  produces  frejh  inhabitants,  Two  or  three 
days  ago,  five  or  Jix  waggon  loads  of  women  and  children 
were  fent  in  from  Albany,  in  imitation  of  the  prudent  policy  of 
Philadelphia.  It  was  impojjible  to  fee  them  without  pain,  driving 
about  the  jlreets,  in  the  forlorn  attitudes  which  people  fatigued 
with  travelling  and  riding  in  waggons  naturally  fall  into,  making 
fruitless  Jearches  for  their  hu/bands  and  their  fathers."] 

YE  Members  of  Congrefs  and  Councils  of  State, 
By  Rebellion  who  hope  to  become  rich  and  great; 
The  project,  tho'  bulky,  is  lighter  than  Cork, 
Then  quit  it  in  time,  and  come  hither  to  York. 

You'll  here  fee  an  Army  polite  and  well-fed ; 
And  crowds  of  fine  folks,  who  lay  three  in  a  bed; 
With  Ladies  too  wife  to  be  fhut  up  in  Cloifters, 
Or  live  upon  Pulfe,  when  there's  plenty  of  Oyfters. 

If  Mufters,  Fines,  Taxes,   improv'd  beyond  reafon, 
Or  loyal  attachment  transformed  to  Treafon, 
Have  wafted  your  Means  or  your  Patience,  come  all 
Where  you'll  pay,  for  the  prefent,  no  Taxes  at  all. 

But 


J2  'The  Loyal  Verfes 

But  firft  load  a  Veflel  with  lumber,  and  fend  her  : 
'Tis  true  me  may  meet  with   fome   Man  of  War's 

Tender. 

My  Shelah  fell  in  with  the  Savage  and  Triton ; 
They  fold  her,  and  left  me  the  fubject  to  write  on.77 

If  Loyal,  come  freely^ if  Rebel,  come  too; 
Only  come  without  leave,  it  is  all  you've  to  do. 
Take  the  Oath,  and  declare  you  was  forc'd  to  this  pum; 
And  if  Tork  will  not  fuit  you,  repair  to  Flatbufti™ 

You'll  there  find  a  country  in  which  you  may  thrive  ; 
And  two  dollars,  from  you,  will  go  farther  than  five 
From  a  poor  Refugee :   and  the  reafon  is  clear — 
c  It  is  good  to  provide  left  the  Rebels  come  here/ 

Here  plenty  of  all  things  for  Cam  may  be  had  ; 
If  that  mould  be  wanting,  your  cafe  will  be  bad. 
Yet  Money's  fo  plenty,  you'll  find,  to  your  coft, 
That  Gold,  like  your  Paper,  its  value  has  loft.79 

Should  Fortune  deny  you  a  Mattrafs  or  Bed, 

Or  a  Clofet  or  Hovel  to  melter  your  head  ; 

Conceal  your  chagrin,  and  a  Volunteer  enter, 

And  fwear  you  came  here  Life  and  Fortune  to  venture  ! 

If  this  fhould  not  fuit  you,  you  may  if  you  pleafe 

Join  freely  with  loyal  and  brave  Refugees, 

And  plunder  your  Friends  and  your  Foes,  great  and 

fmall ; 
And  if  you  are  caught,  why — they'll  hang  you,  that's 

all. 

They'll 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  73 

They'll  hang  you,  that's  all — I  repeat  it  again  : 
And  that,  you'll  confefs,  puts  an  end  to  your  pain. 
'Tis  what  you  are  ufed  to — but  here,  by  the  Lord ! 
Theft,  rapine  and  murder  may  fmile  at  the  Cord. 

But,  joking  apart,  all  the  difference  I  find 
'Twixt  this  place  and  that  I  left  lately  behind  ; 
I  lie  down  in  peace,  and  mjafety  arife, 
And  Liberty's  mine,  an  invaluable  prize. 

So  here  I  enjoy,  with  unfpeakable  pleafure, 

The  objects  for  which  fo  much  bloodfhed  and  treafure 

Have  idly  been  wafted  by  both  fides,  I  fear: 

And  all  who  would  tafte  them,  mould  wifely  come  here. 

If  all  in  Rebellion  would  take  this  advice, 
The  rupture  fo  wide  would  be  clof 'd  in  a  trice. 
Forgetting  paft  Quarrels  we'd  happily  fing, 
Hearts  and  voices  united,  O  God  Save  the  King! 


10  ODE 


74  yfe  Loyal  Verfes 


ODE 

FOR  THE   ST.   GEORGE'S   SOCIETY  AT   NEW  YORK. 

[By  Mr.  STANSBURY  :  written  in  1781,  and  printed  from  h{$ 
Manufcript.80] 

IN  early  Time,  e'er  infant  Law 
From  Wifdom's  bed 
Had  rear'd  her  head, 
The  tyrant  kept  his  flaves  in  awe. 

Juftice  feebly  poif  'd  the  fcale : 
Wifdom  only  could  prevail. 

In  vain  the  aged  Matron  weeps 
O'er  bluming  Beauty's  rifled  charms  ; 
Her  eyes  on  Heaven  in  vain  me  keeps  • 

The  fainting  Virgin  fills  the  Robber's  arms. 

Secure  he  riots  o'er  his  helplefs  prey, 
Mocks  all  her  woes,  and  bears  the  prize  away  ! 

Now  brighter  days  began  to  dawn. 
Oppreftion  faw  the  light,  and  fled  : 
In  dark  Cocytus  plung'd  her  head 

Beneath  the  infernal  wave. 
Fair  Freedom  gilt  the  fpreading  Lawn  ; 
Her  fons  confeft  a  generous  flame: 
Each  ardent  Hero  pants  for  fame, 
By  gallant  deeds  to  build  a  deathlefs  name, 

Or  fill  a  nobler  grave. 
Immortal  Glory  high  in  air 
The  heavenly  ftandard  fpread  ! 
The  laurel  Wreath, 
The  marble  Buft, 

The 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  75 

The  trophied  canvafs,  and  fweet  Clio's  page 
Defy,  O  Time,  thy  utmoft  rage. 

The  good  and juft 

Her  fpirit  breathe. 
*Tis  Glory  fires  the  Hero's  prayer, 
And  crowns  th'  heroic  dead. 

Swift  at  her  call  in  every  clime 
Her  fons  appear  in  Virtue's  caufe ; 
Valour  fupplied  the  force  of  laws, 
And  raif 'd  their  fame  fublime. 


'Twas  thus  great  George  our  Patron  fhone. 
No  Virgin  then  was  heard  complain  : 
No  injur'd  Matron  fued  in  vain : 
To  diftant  lands  his  fame  was  known. 

The  friend  of  Man,  the  Tyrant's  foe, 
His  bofom  felt  a  generous  glow 

To  fuccour  the  diftreft  : 
To  lateft  times  are  handed  down 
His  gallant  deeds,  his  juft  renown  : 

And  make  his  Memory  bleft. 

In  honor  of  his  natal  day, 

His  Sons  their  annual  homage  pay 

And  emulate  their  Sire. 
Nor  fhall  their  grateful  tribute  end, 
Till  final  peals  the  Heavens  fhall  rend 

And  wrap  this  Earth  in  fire. 


j6  The  Loyal  Verfes 

A  SONG 

FOR  ST.  GEORGE'S  DAY,  1781. 
TUNE  :    The  Kings  Old  Courtier. 

[Written  by  STANSBURY  at  New  York,  and  printed  from  his 
Manujcript.] 

ON  this  day  our  Countrymen,  ages  before  ye, 
Have  fung  of  St.  George,  long  remember' d  in 
ftory, 
The  Patron  of  England,  refpiendent  in  Glory. 

Then  Huzza  for  St.  George  and  Old  England ! 
St.  George  and  Old  England,  huzza ! 

Some  Wits  have  pretended  that  George,  like  old  Dagon, 
Had  little  of  Courage  and  Glory  to  brag  on ; 
Himfelf  a  tame  Prieft,  and  a  Faction  the  Dragon. 

And  Dick,  of  good  fellows  the  pride  and  the  life, 

Imagined,  to  keep  up  the  whimiical  ftrife, 

St.  George  was  a  Bully — the  Dragon  his  Wife. 

Tho'  this  explanation  may  now  raife  your  laughter, 
Could  he  punifh  a  Wife,  he  can  punifh  a  Daughter, 
And  all  his  bad  Children,  we'll  mow  you  hereafter. 

He  can  punifh  his  children  connected  with  France, 
Who  exulting  Rebellion's  ftriped  Standard  advance : 
Repenting  they  foon  muft  fubmit  to  his  Lance. 

And 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  77 

And  when  to  their  Duty  recovered  again, 

And  humbled  the  Pride  of  France,  Holland  and  Spain, 

His  Flag  fpread  in  triumph  mail  govern  the  Main. 

Then  Clinton  and  Rodney  and  all  gallant  Souls, 
Whofe  zeal  for  their  country  her  fortune  controuls, 
On  this  day  we'll  honour  with  full  flowing  Bowls. 

And  while  of  St.  George  with  frefh  ardour  we  (ing, 
We'll  pledge  his  great  Namefake,  our  patriot  King, 
And  loud  with  his  Praife  may  the  Univerfe  ring. 

So  huzza  for  St.  George  and  Old  England  ! 

St.  George  and  Old  England,  huzza ! 


ON 


78  The  Loyal  Verfes 


ON  THE  REVIVAL  OF  THE  CHURCH- 
AND-KING  CLUB. 


NEW  YORK,     FEB.   2IST, 

[From  the  Manuscripts  of  JOSEPH  STANSBURY.] 

WHEN  a  vile  rebel  band  from  Britannia's  ftrong 
hand 

Would  fain  pluck  the  Sceptre  and  Ball, 
For  our  Church  and  our  King  we  will  fight  or  we'll  fing  ; 
And  with  them  we  will  ftand  or  will  fall. 
Then  come  let  us  play, 
And  keep  holiday 
To  celebrate  Church  and  King. 

A  Club  fo  renown'd,  with  fuch  choice  Spirits  crown'd  ; 

Where  honour  and  humour  attend  ; 
Should  not  flag  or  decay  while  the  Sun  rules  the  day, 

Nor  till  Time  his  long  journey  mall  end. 

Thus  united  we'll  meet,  while  our  Army  and  Fleet 

The  fame  of  old  England  advance  ; 
Till  from  Eaft  to  the  Weft  we  ftand  victors  confeft 

O'er  the  Congrefs,  the  Spaniards  and  France  ! 

When  that  asra  arrives,  with  our  Sweethearts  and  Wives 

In  Chorus  we'll  joyfully  fing 

A  hymn  to  fweet  Peace  ;   may  her  bleflings  increafe, 
And  furround  both  the  Church  and  the  King  ! 
Oh,  then  how  we'll  play, 
And  keep  holiday, 
To  celebrate  Church  and  King  ! 

SONG 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  79 


SONG 

FOR  A  VENISON  DINNER  AT   MR.   BUNYAN's  : 
NEW  YORK,    lySl. 

[By  STANSBURY  :  collated  from  two  Manujcript  copies.  This 
piece  was  apparently  written  on  occajion  of  an  arrival  of  frejh 
provijions  from  beyond  the  Britijh  lines.  81] 

FRIENDS,  pum  round  the  bottle,  and  let  us  be 
drinking 

While  Wafhington  up  in  his  mountains  is  {linking. 
Good  faith,  if  he's  wife  he'll  not  leave  them  behind  him, 
For  he  knows  he's  fafe  nowheres  where  Britons  can  find 

him. 

When  he  and  Fayette  talk  of  taking  this  city, 
Their  vaunting  moves  only  our  mirth  and  our  pity. 

But  tho'  near  our  lines  they're  too  cautious  to  tarry, 
What  courage  they  mew  when  a  hen-rooft  they  harry  ! 
Who  can  wonder  that  Poultry  and  Oxen  and  Swine 
Seek  melter  in  York  from  fuch  Valour  divine ; 
While  Wafhington's  jaws   and  the    Frenchman's   are 

aching 
The  fpoil  they  have  loft  to  be  boiling  and  baking. 

Let  Clinton  and  Arnold  bring  both  to  fubjection. 
And  fend  us  more  Geefe  here  to  feek  our  Protection. 
Their  flem  and  their  feathers  mall  meet  a  kind  greeting: 
A  fat  Rebel  Turkey  is  excellent  eating : 
A  Lamb  fat  as  butter,  and  white  as  a  Chicken— 
Thefe  forts  of  tame  Rebels  are  excellent  picking. 

Today 


8o  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Today  a  wild  Rebel  has  fmoaked  on  the  Table  : 
You've  cut  him  and  flic'd  him  as  long  as  you're  able. 
He  bounded  like  Congo,  and  bade  you  defiance; 
And  plac'd  on  his  running  his  greateft  reliance. 
But  Fate  overtook  him  and  brought  him  before  ye, 
To  mew  how  Rebellion  will  wind  up  her  Story. 

Then  chear  up,  my  lads :  if  the  Profpect  grows  rougher, 
Remember  from  whence,  and  for  whom  'tis,  you  fuflfer  : 
From  Men  whom  mild  Laws,  and  too  happy  Condition, 
Have  puffed  up  with  Pride  and  inflam'd  with  Sedition  : 
For  George,  whofe  reluctance  to  punifh  Offenders 
Has  ftrengthened  the  hands  of  thefe  upftart  Pretenders. 


THE 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  8 1 


THE  ROYAL  OAK, 

[By  JOSEPH  STANSBURY  :  printed  from  his  Manujcript,  dated 
May  2nd,   1781.82] 

WHEN  Britain  firft,  at  Heaven's  fupreme  com 
mand, 

Emerging  rofe  from  out  the  azure  main ; 
This  was  the  Charter  of  the  favour' d  Land, 

And  crouds  of  Guardian  Angels  fung  this  ftrain  : 
Secure  while  Ocean   roars  around    your  chalky 

mores, 

Thy  Genius  mall  defy  each  hoftile  ftroke  ; 
The   Fates   for  you  ordain   the  empire  of  the 

Main, 
And  Glory  hovers  over  your  Walls  of  Oak. 

The  Oak,  an  emblem  of  your  future  fame, 

Abides  unmov'd  the  elemental  ftrife ; 
And  one  day  mall  acquire  a  glorious  Name 
By  fhielding  in  his  arms  great  Charles's  life. 

Then  filling  earth  and  fkies  your  mighty  deeds  mall 

rife  : 

No  nation  then  mall  dare  your  rage  provoke. 
From  the  Eaft  unto  the  Weft,  to  Neptune's  Sons 

confeft, 
The  world  mall  bow  in  homage  to  the  Royal  Oak. 

1 1  Then 


82  The  Loyal  Verfes 

Then  fhall  the  long  expected  day  appear 

When  Britain's  King  {hall  be  as  good  as  great ; 
Rever'd  by  Foes,  and  to  his  People  dear ; 
The  Friend  and  Father  of  a  mighty  State. 

Yet  Faction  in  his  days  her  hydra-head  ihall  raife, 
And  wrap  her  fpotted  Carcafe  in  a  Patriot's  cloak  : 
But  Clinton  on  the  fhore  fhall  banifh'd  Peace 

reftore, 
And  Arbuthnot  rule  the  main  in  the  Royal  Oak. 

Arbuthnot,  train'd  for  half  an  age  to  war  ; 

To  face  death  and  danger  where  glory  points  the  way; 
And,  often  borne  on  Victory's  beaming  car 

Enjoy'd  the  triumph  of  the  well-fought  day — 
May  he  with  vengeance  fall  on  the  perfidious  Gaul, 
And  ftrew  their  pale-faced  Lilies  o'er  the  main  ; 
That,  as  they  run  away,  D' Aftouche  himfelf  fhall 

fay, 
<c  Begar,  me  n'engage  pas  Royal  Oak  again  ! 


WOODLANDS. 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  83 


WOODLANDS. 

[Printed  from  Mr.  STANSBURY'S  Manujcript  copy.  Whence 
its  title  the  editor  cannot  Jay.  It  is  dated  December  24th,  1782, 
at  which  period  Stanjbury  mujl  have  been  in  New  York,  and 
could  not  therefore  have  written  this  piece  at  the  Woodlands  on 
Schuylkill,  the  jeat  of  a  brother  tory,  Mr.  William  Hamilton.] 

WHEN  Terror  to  Madnefs  had  near  work'd  the 
brain, 

How  fweet  to  return  to  cool  Reafon  again  ! 
To  find  that  our  hopes  in  our  Country  were  jufl: 
That  Subjects  with  George  might  their  Liberties  truft. 

Now  Time  from  the  eyes  of  the  Vulgar  has  drawn 
Burke  s  fine  cobweb  reafonings — thofe  curtains  of  lawn.83 
The  Man  of  the  People  the  People  defpife, 
As  children  thofe  Toys  which  a  moment  they  prize. 

When  Rodney  the  lucky  with  his  Seamen  brave 
Stood  forth  like  true  Britons  their  Country  to  fave  ; 
The  conqueft  to  Neptune  fo  pleafing  was  found. 
Their  temples  with  Laurel  and  Seaweed  he  crown'd. 

And  now  brighter  profpects  are  fpread  to  our  view  ; 
Frefh  honour  prefaging  this  Year  that  is  new  ; 
Indulge  we  the  hope  War  its  horrors  may  ceafe. 
And  all  Men  enjoy  foon  the  Bleffings  of  Peace. 

When 


84  The  Loyal  Verfes 

When  Peace  fhall  return  here,  and  bring  in  her  train 
Eafe,  Love,  Joy,  and  Plenty,  to  brighten  the  Plain  : 
The  Sword  and  Spear  be  to  Ares  refign'd, 
And  the  Plough,   Loom   and   Sail   then  fhall  comfort 
mankind. 


Foul  Faction  and  difcord  no  more  mail  be  known ; 
But  Love,  Pity  and  Kindnefs  fhall  fit  on  a  throne 
To  which  all  around  us  fhall  joyfully  bend, 
And  Peace  crown  our  mores  till  the  World's  at  an  end. 


A  CHRISTMAS  SONG 

FOR   1782. 

[By  STANSBURY  i  printed  from  the  original  Manufcript,  The? 
verje  alluding  to  Carlton  and  Wajhington,  under  the  names  of 
Guy  and  Hannibal,  jeems  to  have  been  dejlgned  for  obliteration 
by  the  poet.] 

NOW  that  Chriftmas-time  is  come, 
Sound  the  Fife  and  beat  the  Drum ; 
We'll  live  cheerily, 
We'll  fing  merily, 
Now  that  Chriftmas-time  has  come. 

Be  the  future  Peace  or  War, 
We're  refolv'd  to  banifh  Care : 

We'll  lay  forrow  by. 

And  tomorrow  try 
Whether  it  be  Peace  or  War. 

Why 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  85 

Why  fhould  we  our  moments  lofe 
For  a  choice  we  cannot  chufe  ? 

Since  we  cannot  tell 

Guy  or  Hannibal 
Conquer  will — ^no  moments  lofe  ! 

Life,  by  Fear  and  Care  deftroy'd, 
Longeft  feems  when  moil  enjoy'd. 

Let  us  live  a  day  ; 

And  not  give  away 
What  by  Care  is  foon  deftroy'd. 

Hope  her  brighteft  banner  fp reads  : 
Victory  dazzles  o'er  our  heads : 

Britain  rifes  high, 

Rebel  Prizes  fly ; 
Now,  while  Hope  her  banner  fpreads. 

Soon  mall  Congrefs,  France,  and  Spain, 
Wifh  themfelves  in  Port  again ; 

While  the  Dutchman's  fate 

Makes  him  cry  too  late  ; 
Curfe  on  Congrefs,  France  and  Spain  ! 

Fill  your  Bumpers,  charge  them  high  : 
Britain's  name  mall  fill  the  Iky  ! 

Prone  her  foes  be  hurl'd  : 

Peace  fhe'll  give  the  world : 
And  her  Fame  mall  never  die  ! 

LET 


86  The  Loyal  Verfes 

LET  US  BE  HAPPY  AS  LONG  AS  WE  CAN. 

&  Song* 

[Printed  from  the  original  Manufcript  of  JOSEPH  STANSBURY, 
and  evidently  adapted  to  the  Jituation  of  the  tory  refugees  at  New 
York,  during  the  latter  part  of  1782  and  the  commencement  of 
1783,  when  the  projpecl  was  daily  growing  Jtronger  of  Great 
Britain  relinquijhing  the  War.  In  this  juncture  many  of  the 
loyalijls  forejaw  the  difficulties  attendant  on  their  choice  of  a  future 
place  of  abode,  when  the  protection  of  the  king's  troops  Jhould  be 
withdrawn.] 

I'VE  heard  in  old  times  that  a  Sage  uf'd  to  fay 
The  Seafons  were  nothing — December  or  May — 
The  Heat  or  the  Cold  never  enter'd  his  Plan  ; 
That  all  mould  be  happy  whenever  they  can. 

No  matter  what  Power  directed  the  State, 
He  look'd  upon  fuch  things  as  order' d  by  Fate. 
Whether  govern'd  by  many,  or  rul'd  by  one  Man, 
His  rule  was — be  happy  whenever  you  can. 

He  happened  to  enter  this  world  the  fame  day 
With  the  fupple,  complying,  fam'd  Vicar  of  Bray. 
Thro'  both  of  their  lives  the  fame  principle  ran : 
My  boys,  we'll  be  happy  as  long  as  we  can. 

Time-ferving 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  87 

Time-ferving  I  hate,  yet  I  fee  no  good  reafon 
A  leaf  from  their  book  fhould  be  thought  out  of  feafon. 
When  kick'd  like  a  foot-ball  from  Sheba  to  Dan, 
Egad,  let's  be  happy  as  long  as  we  can. 

Since  no  one  can  tell  what  tomorrow  may  bring, 
Or  which  fide  mall  triumph,  the  Congrefs  or  King ; 
Since  Fate  muft  o'errule  us  and  carry  her  plan, 
Why,  let  us  be  happy  as  long  as  we  can. 

Tonight  let's  enjoy  this  good  Wine  and  a  Song, 
And  relifh  the  hour  which  we  cannot  prolong. 
If  Evil  will  come,  we'll  adhere  to  our  Plan 
And  baffle  Miffortune  as  long  as  we  can. 


GOD 


88  The  Loyal  Verfes 


GOD  SAVE  THE  KING, 

[Collated  from  two  Manujcript  verjions  and  written  by  Mr. 
STANSBURY,  at  New  York  but  a  Jhort  time  before  the  end  of 
the  war.] 

TIME  was,  in  defence  of  his  King  and  the  Right, 
We  applauded  brave  Wafhington   foremoft  in 

fight: 
On  the  banks  of  Ohio  he  fhouted  luftily 

God  fave  the  King ! 

Difappointed  ambition  his  feet  has  milled ; 
Corrupted  his  heart  and  perverted  his  head : 
Loyal  no  longer,  no  more  he  cries  faithfully 

Glory  and  joy  crown  the  King!84 

With  Envy  inflam'd  'tis  in  Britain  the  fame ; 
Where  leaders,  defpairing  of  virtuous  fame, 
Have  pufh'd  from   their   feats   thofe  whofe  watchword 
was  constantly 

God  fave  the  King ! 

The  helm  of  the  State  they  have  clutched  in  their  grafp 
When  American  Treafon  is  at  its  laft  gafp  : 
When  Firmnefs  and  Loyalty  foon  fhould  fing  valiantly 

Glory  and  Joy  crown  the  King ! 

But  Britain,  with  Glory  and  Conqueft  in  view, 
When  nothing  was  wanted,  but juft  to  purfue — 
To  yield — -while  her  Heroes  chanted  triumphantly 

God  fave  the  King  ! 

With  curfes  confign  to  the  Furies  his  Name, 
Whofe  Counfels  thus  cover' d  his  Country  with  fhame  ! 
Loyalifts  ftill  will  chant,  tho'  heavily, 

Glory  and  Joy  crown  the  King. 

Tho' 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  8 

Tho'  ruin'd  fo  deeply  no  Angel  can  fave : 

The  Empire  difmember'd:   our  King  made  a  Slave  : 

Still  loving,  revering,  we  mout  forth  honeftly 

God  fave  the  King  ! 

Tho  fated  to  Banimment,  Poverty,  Death, 
Our  Hearts  are  unalter'd,  and  with  our  laft  breath 
Loyal  to  George,  we'll  pray  moft  fervently 

Glory  and  Joy  crown  the  King ! 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 

[Theje  lines,  by  Mr.  STANSBURY,  are  written  on  the  back  of 
his  God  fave  the  King.  Their  date  is  probably  about  that  of  the 
recognition  by  England  of  our  independence.] 

NOW  this  War  at  length  is  o'er ; 
Let  us  think  of  it  no  more. 
Every  Party  Lie  or  Name, 
Cancel  as  our  mutual  Shame, 
Bid  each  wound  of  Faction  clofe, 
Blufhing  we  were  ever  Foes. 

Now  reftor'd  to  Peace  again, 
Active  Commerce  ploughs  the  Main  ; 
All  the  arts  of  Civil  Life 
Swift  fucceed  to  Martial  Strife  ; 
Britain  now  allows  their  claim, 
Rifing  Empire,  Wealth,  and  Fame, 


12 


TO 


90  'The  Loyal  Verfes 


TO  CORDELIA. 

[Theje  lines  were  addrejjed  to  his  wife  by  Mr.  STANSBURY 
from  Nova  Scotia  ;  whither  at  the  clofe  of  the  Revolution  he  had 
retired  with  many  other  tory  refugees.  They  are  printed  from  a 
manufcript  copy  collated  with  a  verjion  publijhed  at  Philadelphia, 
in  1805,  on  page  140  of  The  Evening  Firejide — a  literary  peri 
odical  chiefly  jupported  among  the  Quakers.] 

BELIEVE  me,  Love,  this  vagrant  life 
O'er  Nova  Scotia's  wilds  to  roam, 
While  far  from  children,  friends,  or  wife, 

Or  place  that  I  can  call  a  home 
Delights  not  me  ; — another  way 
My  treafures,  pleafures,  wifhes  lay. 

In  piercing,  wet,  and  wintry  ikies, 

Where  man  would  feem  in  vain  to  toil 

I  fee,  where'er  I  turn  my  eyes, 
Luxuriant  pafture,  trees  and  foil. 

Uncharm'd  I  fee  : — another  way 

My  fondeft  hopes  and  wifhes  lay. 

Oh  could  I  through  the  future  fee 

Enough  to  form  a  fettled  plan, 
To  feed  my  infant  train  and  thee 

And  fill  the  rank  and  ftyle  of  man  : 
I'd  cheerful  be  the  livelong  day  ; 
Since  all  my  wifhes  point  that  way. 

But 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  9 1 

But  when  I  fee  a  fordid  fhed 

Of  birchen  bark,  procured  with  care> 

Defign'd  to  fhield  the  aged  head 

Which  Britim  mercy  placed  there — 

'Tis  too,  too  much :    I  cannot  ftay, 

But  turn  with  ftreaming  eyes  away. 

Oh  !   how  your  heart  would  bleed  to  view 

Six  pretty  prattlers  like  your  own, 
Expof  'd  to  every  wind  that  blew ; 

Condemn'd  in  fuch  a  hut  to  moarn 
Could  this  be  borne,  Cordelia,  fay  ? 
Contented  in  your  cottage  ftay. 

'Tis  true,  that  in  this  climate  rude, 

The  mind  refolv'd  may  happy  be ; 
And  may,  with  toil  and  folitude, 

Live  independent  and  be  free. 
So  the  lone  hermit  yields  to  flow  decay : 
Unfriended  lives — unheeded  glides  away. 

If  fo  far  humbled  that  no  pride  remains, 

But  moot  indifference  which  way  flows  the 
ftream  ; 

Refign'd  to  penury,  its  cares  and  pains ; 

And  hope  has  left  you  like  a  painted  dream  ; 

Then  here,  Cordelia,  bend  your  penfive  way, 

And  clofe  the  evening  of  Life's  wretched  day. 


NOTES 


NOTES. 


NOTE  i,  Page  i. 

LTHOUGH  the  date  of  this  piece  is  anterior  to  the  com 
mencement  of  hoftilities  between  England  and  America,  its 
allufions  to  the  "  party  contentions "  which  were  already 
beginning  to  rage,  may  juftify  its  infertion  here.  Of  the  author, 
Mr.  JOSEPH  STANSBURY,  the  editor  is  not  able  to  give  much  in 
formation.  He  was  an  Englifhman  who  had  emigrated  to  America 
feveral  years  previoufly.  The  following  verfes  were  perhaps  the  firft 
fruits  of  his  Mufe  in  his  adopted  land.  They  are  given  from  a  manufcript 
verfion  collated  with  that  printed  in  the  Evening  Firefide  (Philadelphia, 
1805),  page  124  ;  and  purport  to  have  been  written  by  Mr.  Stanfbury  on 
his  arrival  in  Pennsylvania  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1767. 


MY  NATIVE  LAND. 

Borne  by  Eolus  o'er  the  Atlantic  waves, 

To  Indian  lands  unknown  I  wayward  ftray, 
Whofe  verdant  bofom  filver  Schuylkill  laves ; 

Stately  and  filent  as  the  clofe  of  day. 
Where  rears  the  lofty  fpire  its  gilded  creft, 

And  thriving  Commerce  drives  the  bufy  Car, 
In  folemn  pomp,  by  liberal  Nature  dreft, 

Majeftic  rolls  the  mighty  Delaware, 


Tho' 


g6  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

Tho'  Toothing  Friendfhip  here  her  healing  balm, 

From  unexpected  hands,  benign  beftows, 
And  o'er  life's  troubled  furface  fpreads  a  calm 

Which  lulls  to  lilent  reft  my  former  woes ; 
Still  painful  Memory  prompts  the  gufhing  tear, 

(Her  retrofpeclive  mirror  in  her  hand,) 
When  lively  images  of  kindred  dear 

Infpire  the  wifh  to  fee  my  native  land. 

Tho'  manly  health  with  each  returning  fun, 

Sheds  choiceft  bleffings  on  my  favour'd  head, 
And  when  this  buly  varied  day  is  done 

Still  keeps  his  watchful  Itation  round  my  bed : 
Yet  ftill,  beneath  fevere  Reflexion's  power, 

The  numerous  paft  tranfaftions  prefent  ftand, 
And  Nature's  ftrongeft  ties,  each  prcfcnt  hour, 

Urge  me  in  vain,  to  hail  my  native  land. 

Tho'  Wealth,  the  lordly  power  by  all  ador'd, 

Seems  kindly  to  increafe  my  little  ftore ; 
And  hardy  Temperance  with  a  frugal  board 

Forbids  pale  dreary  Want  to  haunt  my  door  j 
Yet  will  a  gentle  race  of  kindred  dear, 

Like  airy  Shades,  conjur'd  by  magic  wand, 
Arife  in  view,  and  force  a  briny  tear, 

A  tear  of  reverence  for  my  native  land. 

Tho'  here  Religion,  heaven-illumined  Fair, 

Breathes  free,  by  papal  {hackles  unconfin'd ; 
Prompts  from  the  inmoft  foul  the  vital  prayer, 

Alone  well-pleafmg  to  the  Eternal  Mind  : 
Still  in  my  troubled  fight,  forever  dear, 

Of  relatives  appear  a  much  loved  band  ; 
Nor  can  my  eyes  reftrain  the  ftreaming  tear, 

While  thys  they  call  me  to  my  native  land. 

Nor 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell.  97 

Nor  can  the  tender  folace  of  a  wife 

The  lov'd  idea  from  my  breaft  erafe ; 
Tho'  much  the  deareft  treafure  of  my  life, 

Adorn'd  with  every  fweet,  attractive  grace. 
The  friendly  forms  beloved,  forever  dear, 

Still  ftand  confeff'd  and  beckon  with  the  hand : 
Adown  my  cheek  faft  flows  the  briny  tear, 

While  thus  they  call  me  to  my  native  land. 

Alike  the  profpeft  of  an  offfpring  moves 

Life's  purple  current  gladdening  thro'  my  breaft : 
The  long-wifh'd  produce  of  our  mutual  loves ; 

The  fweetefl  femblance  of  a  foul  at  reft. 
Yet  ftill  impetuous  gum  fpontaneous  tears, 

Like  heaven-dire6led  Nile  o'er  Memphis'  ftrand : 
To  Wifdom's  calming  courage,  deaf  mine  ears : 

I  pant  impatient  for  my  native  land. 

Say,  for  what  new  and  kindly  purpofe  given 

This  wondrous  impulfe,  when  abroad  we  roam  : 

Did  Fancy  plant  it  ?     No,  it  is  from  Heaven 

That  joy  fprings  blooming  round  the  thoughts  of  home. 

'Tis  this  by  Liberty  infpir'dy  adorns 

The  brighteft  pages  of  hiftoric  truth, 
While  Afia's  Chief  his  vanquifh'd  thoufands  mourns 

Before  the  ardour  of  the  Spartan  youth. 

No  wonder  then  diftils  the  pearly  tear ; 

It  ftreaming  flows  at  Nature's  high  command : 
The  ties  of  kindred  are  forever  dear, 

And  dear  the  memory  of  my  native  land. 

Mr. 
13 


98  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

Mr.  Stanfbury  was  probably  a  native  of  London.  In  1785,  his  fifter, 
Mrs.  Collins,  refided  at  St.  Paul's  Churchyard  in  that  city.  But,  from 
the  time  of  his  arrival  in  America,  he  appears  to  have  conlidered  this 
country  as  his  home.  In  Philadelphia  he  eftablifhed  himfelf  in  trade ; 
and  by  his  commercial  integrity,  his  literary  taftes,  and  his  many  private 
virtues,  foon  acquired  the  efteem  of  moft  of  the  chief  characters  of  the 
city.  At  a  more  advanced  period  his  political  opinions  brought  him  into 
direct  oppofition  to  a  number  of  his  perfonal  friends :  but  defpite  the 
ready  wit  with  which  he  aflailed  the  whigs  and  even  the  perfonal  adhe 
rence  that  he  gave  to  the  royal  ftandard,  he  ftill  continued  to  command 
their  good-will.  "  He  ufed  to  rail  without  meafure  at  the  whigs,  whom 
"  he  held  in  great  contempt,"  fays  tradition,  "  but  neverthelefs  fuch  was  his 
"  amiability  of  difpofition  and  his  focial  worth  that  even  by  whigs  of  the 
"  firft  ftanding  in  politics  and  fociety  he  was  prized  and  efteemed." 

When  the  Britifh  occupied  Philadelphia  in  1777,  Stanfbury  was  of 
courfe  one  of  thofe  who  remained  to  welcome  Howe  and  his  followers, 
in  whom  he  viewed  the  reflorers  of  civil  order  and  the  deftroyers  of  re 
bellion.  So  far  as  can  be  gathered  now,  he  had  belonged  up  to  a  certain 
period,  to  the  moderate  oppofition :  diffatiffied  with  the  miniflerial  pro 
ceedings  in  regard  to  America,  but  totally  averfe  to  a  refort  to  arms  to 
procure  rcdrefs.  There  was  a  large  and  influential  clafs  in  Pennfylvania 
who  took  this  view  of  affairs  ;  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in 
1776,  was  a  fignal  for  the  withdrawal  of  many  (fuch  as  the  Aliens  and 
others)  from  the  whig  ranks,  even  after  they  had  affociated  in  arms 
againft  England.  They  would  refill  as  Englifhmen,  not  as  Americans. 
By  all  who  came  under  fuch  a  category,  the  approach  of  the  king's  troops 
was  of  courfe  gladly  hailed.  By  reference  to  the  local  newfpapers  of  the 
day,  we  find  that  Stanfbury  on  the  loth  October,  1777,  removed  his 
china  ftore  to  Front  street,  between  Market  and  Chefnut  streets ;  and 
that  in  the  fame  month  he  was  appointed  by  the  royal  general  one  of  a 
commiflion  for  felecting  and  governing  the  city  watch.  On  Monday, 
May  4th,  1778,  he  was  chofen  a  director  of  the  Library  Company  of 

Philadelphia  ; 


of  Stanfbury  and  OdelL  99 

Philadelphia  ;  and  on  the  I5th  of  the  fame  month,  his  name  is  publimed 
with  thofe  of  feveral  others  of  the  leading  citizens,  as  a  manager  of  Howe's 
Lottery  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  the  place.  On  the  evacuation  of  the 
city,  he  probably  accompanied  the  fleet  to  New  York,  where  he  con 
tinued  to  dwell  during  the  remainder  of  the  war.  During  all  this  period 
his  pen  was  aclive  in  the  caufe  of  Great  Britain,  nor  did  he  always  fpare 
the  follies  of  her  friends,  while  he  condemned  what  he  confidered  the 
crimes  of  her  enemies.  All  of  his  productions  that  can  be  identified  by 
the  editor,  and  have  any  political  bearing,  are  given  in  the  preceding  pages  : 
the  following  lines  were  omitted  however  in  the  body  of  this  volume,  be- 
caufe  though  attributed  to  Stanfbury,  the  evidence  of  their  authorfhip  is 
purely  conjectural.  They  were  printed  in  Rivington's  Gazette — Riving 
ton's  Lying  Gazette,  the  Americans  ftyled  it — March  zd,  1782.  Their 
occafion  was  the  fubjoined  Epigram,  that  appeared  in  the  Freeman's 
Journal  (publimed  by  Francis  Bailey  at  Philadelphia),  February  I3th, 
1782,  in  regard  to  the  title  of  Rivington's  paper  having  been  fo  blurred 
in  the  printing  as  to  be  fcarcely  legible.  Rivington's  firft  name  was 
James. 

Says  Satan  to  Jemmy,  I  hold  you  a  bet 

That  you  mean  to  abandon  our  Royal  Gazette ; 

Or,  between  you  and  me,  you  would  manage  things  better 

Than  the  Title  to  print  on  fo  damned  a  Letter. 

Now,  being  connected  fo  long  in  the  Art, 
It  would  not  be  prudent  at  prefent  to  part : 
And  People  perhaps  would  be  frighten'd  and  fret, 
If  the  Devil  alone  carried  on  the  Gazette. 

Says  Jemmy  to  Satan,  (by  way  of  a  wipe) 
Who  gives  me  the  Matter  mould  furnifh  the  Type. 
And  why  you  find  fault  I  can  fcarcely  divine, 
For  the  Types,  like  the  Printer,  are  certainly  thine. 

»Tis 


ioo  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

'Tis  your's  to  deceive  with  the  femblahce  of  Truth, 
Thou  Friend  of  my  Age  and  thou  Guide  of  my  Youth ! 
But  to  profper,  pray  fend  me  fome  further  fupplies, 
A  Sett  of  new  Types  and  a  Sett  of  new  Lies. 

This  effufion  was  fubfcribed  M.  The  anfwer  in  Rivington  bears  the 
letter  N  :  and  is  fo  inferior  to  Stanfbury's  ufual  flandard  that  it  can  hardly 
be  of  his  compofition. 

THE  RETORT-COURTEOUS. 

Says  the  Poet  to  Bailey,  pray  what  is  the  Reafon, 
Since  you  fo  delight  in  printing  our  Treafon, 
That  your  paper  is  oft  times  fa/oft  and  fo  blue, 
That  we  cannot  tell  Tool  from  Fool,  or  /  from  U  ? 

Says  Bailey,  the  reafon  is  plain,  Matter  Poet ; 
Had  you  one  grain  of  Senfe  you  furely  would  know  it. 
Its  foftnefs  refembles  the  fculls  of  my  Writers, 
Who're  a  Sett  of  nervelefs  infipid  Inditers. 

And  tho'  the  Colour's  unlike  both  Chriftian  and  Jew  Skin, 
Yet  it  greatly  refembles  a  true  Rebel  Blue-Skin  : 
Befides  the  texture  well  fuits  fuch  labours  as  thine, 
Which  even  Minerva  can't  fave  from  Clo'cine. 

Perhaps  the  following  extraft,  from  a  manufcript  letter  from  a  loyalift 
in  New  York  to  a  friend  in  Philadelphia,  may  explain  how  the  author- 
Ihip  of  thefe  lines  was  given  to  Stanfbury.  It  is  poffible  that  Bremner 
was,  for  caution's  fake,  ufed  for  Bailey ;  and  though  the  year  in  which 
.the  letter  was  written  does  not  appear,  yet  it  was  certainly  not  remote 
from  1782.  In  reference  to  fome  enclofures  he  had  received  from  Phi 
ladelphia,  the  writer,  under  date  of  Feb.  26th,  fays  :  "  The  German 

paper 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  i  o  I 

"  paper  pleaf'd  feveral  Heffian  officers  and  the  lines  on  Bremner  feveral 
"  perfons  of  tafte.  Stanfbury  was  charm'd  with  them,  and  Rivington  is  to 
"  ufher  them  into  the  world." 

While  in  New  York,  Stan  (bury  preferved  the  friendfhip  of  his  old 
friends  among  the  loyalifts ;  and  would  even  feem,  in  December,  1780, 
to  have  vifited  Philadelphia.  At  the  clofe  of  the  war,  he  went  to  Nova 
Scotia  with  a  view  to  fettling  there  on  the  lands  afligned  by  England  to 
the  refugees  ;  but  the  country  feems  to  have  found  as  little  favour  in  his 
eyes  as  in  thole  of  William  Cobbett,  and  he  foon  returned  to  the  United 
States.  Under  date  of  November  I4th,  1785,  a  lady  at  Philadelphia 
writes :  "  Jofeph  Stanfbury  called  on  us  the  other  day  :  his  fpirits  and 
"  vivacity  are  ftill  the  fame.  He  propofes  living  in  this  city  in  the  fpring  : 
"  at  prefent  his  family  are  at  Mooreftown  in  the  Jerfeys,  where  he  fays  any 
"  body  may  live."  But  if  the  People  at  Mooreftown  were  willing  to  for 
give  and  forget,  thofe  at  Philadelphia  were  not.  On  December  22nd, 
1785,  the  manufcript  laft  quoted  from  fays:  "Jofeph  Stanfbury  lives  at 
"  Mooreftown ;  but  intended  to  have  taken  a  ftore  here  and  gone  into  the 
' '  fame  line  of  bulinefs  as  before.  But  a  fortnight  fince,  when  he  was  in 
"  town,  a  letter  directed  to  him  was  thrown  into  a  houfe  where  he  was  fup- 
"  pofed  to  lodge.  The  purport  of  it  was  that  he  muft  immediately  leave 
"  this  city,  as  he  would  not  be  permitted  to  live  in  it ;  and  figned  Mulberry 
"  Ward.  His  friend  R.  Wells  advifes  him  to  give  up  the  idea  of  coming 
"  here  at  prefent,  and  go  to  Wilmington  as  a  place  of  trade.  Some  warm 
"  people  met  the  evening  before  the  letter  was  fent  and  had  fet  in  judgment 
"  on  Jofeph's  works ;  his  Town-Meeting  and  fome  other  performances  were 
"  read  and  did  not  tend  to  cool,  but  rather  to  warm ;  and  produced  the 
"  hint  to  depart.  I  mould  not  have  mentioned  this  affair  but  that  I  "know 
"  fuch  reports  often  go  abroad  with  additions,  and  that  it  would  be  beft  to 
"  relate  it  as  it  is.  He  is  a  very  obnoxious  character  with  fome  people." 
From  another  fource  I  learn  that  he  finally  fettled  in  New  York,  where 
he  paffed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Although  there  were  others  of  his  name  in  America  before  the  war,  it  is 

not 


102  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Ferfes 

not  known  whether  they  were  of  the  fame  family  with  our  author.  On 
the  iyth  January,  1775,  we  find  D.  Stanjbury,]uii\or,  one  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Obfervation  (whig)  for  Baltimore  county,  Maryland  ;  and  the 
name  yet  exifts  in  Baltimore. 

With  a  very  few  exceptions,  I  am  authorized  to  believe  that  the  pieces 
prefented  in  this  volume  do  not  give  a  fair  eflimate  of  Stanfbury's  genius. 
Although  he  wrote  a  great  number  of  poems,  &c.,  during  the  Revolution, 
but  a  fmall  number  are  preferved ;  and  thefe  owe  their  fafety  rather  to 
accident,  or  to  the  fadl:  of  their  being  already  in  print,  than  to  his  own 
inclinations.  "  He  wrote  much  in  the  heyday  of  the  Revolution  that  he 
"  afterwards  deftroyed :  for  with  him  all  refentments  died  at  the  clofe  of 
"  the  ftruggle,  and  he  even  feemed  to  forget  who  had  hated  and  who  had 
"  injured  him.  His  friends  he  never  forgot."  The  beft  authority  that  I 
can  refer  to  on  this  point  declares  that  moft  of  his  pieces  collected  in  this 
volume  were  but  the  creatures  of  the  moment,  "  Scarce  a  line  of  which 
"  he  would  himfelf  have  remembered  a  day  after  the  ink  was  dry."  Never- 
thelefs,  fince  fortunate  circumftances  have  enabled  me  to  gather  together 
pretty  much  all  that  is  known  to  exift  of  Stanibury's  writings,  I  cannot  but 
efteem  them  worthy  of  prefervation ;  often  for  their  own  decided  merit, 
and  in  every  cafe  as  fignificant  memorials  of  the  days  gone  by. 

The  only  paflage,  in  the  Song  that  has  occafioned  this  note,  which 
may  demand  an  explanation,  is  the  reference  in  the  fourth  ftanza  to  the 
difpute  between  England  and  Spain  refpecling  the  Falkland  Iflands.  After 
all,  Spain  finally  retained  undivided  pofleflion  of  the  worthlefs  but  d\{- 
puted  territory.  John  Adams's  letter  to  his  wife  of  23rd  April,  1776, 
contains  fome  curious  fads  about  the  St.  George's  Society  at  Philadelphia 
at  that  day. 

NOTE  2,  Page  3. 

The  antecedents  of  many  who,  towards  the  crifis  of  war,  became  tories, 
or  at  leaft  were  oppofed  to  taking  up  arms  againft  England,  are  thus 
inveighed  againfl  in  the  Monitor,  No.  VIII,  publilhed  at  New  York, 
November,  1775  : 

The 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  103 

"  The  very  men  who  have  now  luckily  fallen  into  fuch  a  pleafant 
"  dream  of  loyalty  and  obedience,  in  the  time  of  the  Stamp  Aft  were  moft 
"  of  them  '  patriots  of  diftinguifhed  note ;'  the  moft  vociferous  clamorers 
"  for  liberty  and  property ;  the  life  and  foul  of  mobs ;  the  leaders  in  all 
"  the  valorous  expeloits  of  plebian  phrenzy,  fuch  as  parading  the  ftreets  with 
"  effigies,  pulling  down  houfes,  tarring  and  feathering  and  the  like.  Tn  a 
"  word,  they  did  not  fcruple  in  thofe  days  to  run  headlong  into  practices 
(( much  more  wanton  and  diforderly  than  any  that  have  happened  in  the 
"  courfe  of  our  prefent  ftruggle,  which  has  been  managed  with  lingular 
"  decency,  regularity  and  prudence. 

"  They  then  thought  it  no  treafon,  no  mortal  fin,  no  Republican  or 
"  Prefbyterian  contrivance,  to  form  a  Continental  Congrefs;  to  petition 
"  and  remonftrate  with  fpirit  and  freedom  j  to  deny  the  right  of  taxation 
"  claimed  and  exercifed  by  the  Parliament ;  to  enter  into  agreements  for 
"  the  reftriftion  of  commerce ;  to  aft  in  every  refpeft  with  fuitable  vigour 
"  and  refolution.  They  did  not  tremble  at  the  found  of  Minifterial  ven- 
"  geance ;  neither  were  they  afraid  to  adopt  any  decifive  meafure,  becaufe 
"  it  might  tend  to  irritate,  to  widen  the  breach,  to  throw  an  obftacle  in  the 
"  way  of  peace  and  reconciliation,  and  the  reft  of  the  trite  nonfenfe,  the 
"  produft  of  thefe  exuberant  times.  The  contracted  views  of  party,  the 
"  fordid  motives  of  ambition  and  avarice,  had  not  then  taken  fuch  firm  hold 
"  on  their  minds  as  they  have  fince.  They  felt  the  force  of  reafon,  liftened 
"  to  its  diftates,  and  cooperated  in  the  neceflary  means  of  bringing  fpeedy 
"  relief  to  their  Country." 

Since  the  above  has  been  in  the  printer's  hand,  the  editor  has  been 
favoured  with  fome  paflages  in  reference  to  Stanfbury,  extracted  from  the 
Pennfylvania  Records  and  Archives,  which  are  fubjoined. 

On  the  25th  November,  1776,  at  a  meeting  at  the  Indian  Queen,  in 
Philadelphia,  "  Mr.  Smith  attended  and  informed  that  he  thinks  Jofeph 
"  Stanfbury  fung  God  Save  the  King  in  his  houfe,  and  a  number  of  perfons 
"prefent  bore  him  Chorus,  on  the  I5th  Oftober,  1776,"  &c.  For  this 
offence,  the  fingers  were,  it  feems,  forced  to  enter  into  obligations  to  con 
fine 


1 04  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

fine  themfelves  to  their  own  dwellings :  and  they  probably  foon  under 
went  a  feverer  punifhment.  On  December  loth,  1776,  the  Council  of 
Safety  ordered  that  an  enquiry  mould  be  made  into  the  caufes  of  the 
commitment  of  Jofeph  Stanfbury,  William  Smith,  and  others,  and  that 
the  confirmation  or  annulment  of  their  confinement  mould  depend  on 
their  being  found  free  from  difaffection  to  the  Whig  caufe,  and  on  their 
taking  the  oath  of  fidelity  and  allegiance  to  America.  On  January  4th, 
1777,  this  Council  ordered  £5  us.  ^d.  to  be  paid  Stanfbury  for  glafs 
and  delph  ware  obtained  for  the  Montgomery,  a  public  fhip.  In  the 
Minutes  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  thefe  entries  occur  :  "  Phila- 
"  delphia,  Nov.  27,  1780.  Monday.  Ordered,  that  Robert  Smith,  Efq., 
"  Agent  for  Eftates,  do  make  out  an  inventory  of  the  goods  &  effects  in  his 
"  pofleffion,  now  or  late  the  property  of  Jofeph  Stanfbury,  and  make  return 
"  to  this  Board  immediately.  *  *  *  Dec.  13,  1780.  A  petition  from 
"  Jofeph  Stanfbury,  praying  to  be  permitted  to  retire  within  the  lines  of  the 
<c  enemy  was  read,  and  the  fame  was  rejected,  fo  far  as  it  refpects  his  going 
"to  New  York.  *  *  *  Dec.  18,  1780.  On  confideration,  Ordered, 
"  That  Jofeph  Stanfbury,  with  his  family,  be  permitted  to  go  to  New  York, 
"  he  giving  his  promife  upon  honour  to  proceed  immediately  to  that  city, 
"  and  ufe  his  utmoft  endeavours  to  have  Abijah  Wright  &  Cafper  Geyer, 
"  now  prifoners  on  Long  Ifland,  releafed  and  permitted  to  return  home, 
"  and  that  he  will  not  do  anything  injurious  to  the  United  States  ;  that  his 
<c  effects  be  reftored  to  him,  &  himfelf  liberated  as  foon  as  he  mail  be  ready 
"  to  fet  out'for  New  York ;  that  the  agent  for  confifcated  eftates  be  directed 
"  to  deliver  up  the  keys  of  his  property.  *  *  *  January  8,  1781.  On 
"application,  a  pafs  was  granted  to  Mrs.  Stanfbury  (wife  of  Jofeph  Stanf- 
"  bury),  for  herfelf,  fix  children,  and  a  fervant  maid,  with  her  cloathing, 
"  bedding,  &c." 

NOTE  3,  Page  5. 

"  May  America   prove  a  fure  and  lafting  Afylum   for  the  Liberties  of 
"  Mankind !"     (Author's  note.) 

NOTE 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  105 

NOTE  4,  Page  5. 

Of  the  hiftory  of  Dr.  ODELL,  the  author  of  thefe  verfes,  I  have  very 
little  to  add  to  what  is  already  given  in  The  Loyalift  Poetry  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  page  199.  That  he  was  the  writer  of  The  American  Times  (under 
the  pfeudonym  of  Camillo  Querno),  printed  in  that  work,  is  a  faft  of 
which  I  have  now  no  doubt,  although  it  is  not  there  fo  ftated,  and  although 
it  has  been  attributed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Cooper.  In  the  Royal 
Pennfylvania  Gazette  of  z6th  May,  1778,  is  a  long  piece  in  blank  verfe 
entitled  Americans  Lamentation,  and  fubfcribed  C.  Q.  R. ;  which  letters 
would  more  appofitely  reprefent  the  name  afTumed  by  the  writer  of  the 
Times  than  that  of  any  other  perfon  connected  with  the  tory  prefs  known 
to  me.  But  this  does  not  afford  fufficient  warrant  for  its  introduction  here. 
It  opens  thus : 

O  Thou  who,  with  furpaiTmg  glory  crown'd, 
Look'fl  down  from  Albion's  throne ;  the  fole  juft  Lord 
Of  this  new  world ;  to  thee  I'd  fondly  call ; 
And  with  a  filial  voice  ftill  ufe  thy  name, 

0  Sire,  to  tell  thee  how  I  love  thofe  beams 
That  bring  to  my  remembrance  from  what  flate 

1  fell ;  how  glorious  once,  under  thy  fhine,  &c. 

In  regard  to  the  proceedings  againft  Odell  in  the  Provincial  Congrefs 
of  New  Jerfey  (fee  The  Loyalift  Poetry,  page  201),  it  may  be  added 
here  that  when  charges  were  firft  lodged  with  that  body,  he  at  the  fame 
time  (Oft.  1 3th,  1775)  preferred  a  prayer  that  his  cafe  might  be  heard 
that  day.  He  was  in  attendance  on  the  houfe,  and  was  paroled  to  return 
on  the  1 7th ;  when  after  a  hearing,  it  was  refolved  in  fubftance  that 
although  his  intercepted  letter  exprefled  his  oppofition  to  the  whig  pro 
ceedings,  yet  as  that  congrefs  did  not  wifh  to  violate  the  right  of  private 
fentiment,  and  the  letter  not  appearing  to  have  been  defigned  to  influence 

public 


106  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

public  meafures,  etc.,  they  would  pafs  no  public  cenfure  on  him.  He  was 
afterwards  more  ftringently  dealt  with,  in  July  and  Auguft,  1776;  doubt- 
lefs  in  confequence  of  his  connexions  with  certain  Britifh  officers  in  June, 
as  commemorated  by  himfelf  in  the  Birthday  Ode  and  the  piece  fucceed- 
ing  it,  ante,  p.  7.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  chiefly  pafled  in  New  York 
and  Nova  Scotia.  The  manufcript  of  a  loyal  lady  who  mentions  vifits 
from  him  at  the  former  place  on  the  z8th  Oft.,  1781,  and  I5th  Feb., 
1782,  thus  refers  to  his  fettlement  in  the  latter.  "January  5th,  1785. 
"  *  *  *  Dr.  Odell  I  fee  is  at  his  deflined  abode,  and  really  the  Doftor's 
"  profpefts  are  very  flattering.  To  hold  three  or  four  of  the  moft  lucrative 
"  offices  in  the  Government  is  not  always  the  lot  of  one  perfon ;  which  will 
"  bring  in  £  ipoo  p.  ann.,  and  is  a  fituation  beyond  what  he  could  expeft. 
"  I  envy  none  their  profpedls  in  a  new  country.  £  i  oo  in  my  native  land 
"with  my  friends  is  worth  £1000  elfewhere." 

In  addition  to  the  poetical  efFufions  of  Dr.  Odell  already  given,  the 
following  pieces  may  intereft  the  reader,  although  from  their  not  pofleffing 
a  political  bearing  they  could  not  well  be  inferted  previoufly.  They  are 
printed  from  manufcript  copies,  and  now,  it  is  believed,  for  the  firfl  time. 
The  fubjoined  verfes  were  doubtlefs  addrefled  to  the  corps  in  which  he 
had  once  ferved. 

A  WELCOME  HOME  TO  THE  TWENTY-THIRD  REGIMENT 

AFTER  THE  PEACE  OF   1763. 

From  burning  fands  or  frozen  plains, 

Where  Victory  cheer'd  the  way, 
Hail,  ye  returning,  fmall  remains 

Of  many  a  glorious  day  ! 

In  eight  revolving  years,  alas, 

What  havoc  war  has  made  ? 
A  tear  (hall  fwell  one  circling  glafs 

In  memory  of  the  Dead. 

With 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  107 

With  Englifh  hearts,  to  fate  refign'd, 

They  earn'd  a  deathlefs  fame : 
For  England  bled,  and  left  behind 

A  fadly-pleafmg  name. 

On  many  a  widely  diftant  land, 

Or  in  the  howling  deep, 
Tho*  now  they  feem  by  Death's  cold  hand 

Held  in  eternal  fleep  : 

Yet  are  they  far  from  what  they  feem  ; 

Their  clay  alone  is  cold  : 
The  _/£>#/,  a  warm,  etherial  beam, 

No  power  of  Death  can  hold. 

This  mortal  frame  is  but  a  Screen 

Between  us  and  the  Skies ; 
Death  draws  the  Curtain,  and  the  Scene 

Then  opens  on  our  eyes. 

'Tis  we  that  dream,  not  they  that  jleep : 

Their  hovering  Spirits  fly 
Around  you  Hill,  and  on  you  keep 

A  friendly  watchful  eye. 

And  thus  the  Chief,  who  lately  led 

Your  courage  to  the  field, 
May  ftill  be  fancied  at  your  head ; 

Still  warn  you  not  to  yield. 

Your  loft  companions  thus  may  ftrive 

With  you  each  toil  to  bear : 
May  ftill  in  Fancy's  eye  furvive 

Your  future  fame  to  mare ! 

with 


io8  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

With  joyful  triumph,  then,  review 

Your  toils  and  dangers  paft ; 
Fill  up  the  circling  glafs  anew, 

And — Welcome  home  at  lafl ! 

Thefe  verfes  mutt  alfo  have  been  written  during  Odell's  refidence  at 
London :  the  allufions  to  Pope's  works  need  no  explanation. 

ON  POPE'S  GARDEN  AT  TWICKENHAM:    1765. 

Behold  the  confecrated  Bowers 

Where  oft,  with  rapture  fweet, 
The  Mufe  beguil'd  the  lingering  hours, 

And  cheer'd  her  Bard's  retreat. 

"  To  wake  the  Soul,  the  Genius  raife, 

"  And  mend  the  Heart,"  he  lings : 
Echo  repeats  the  melting  lays ; 

And  Fame  her  tribute  brings. 

Here  nothing  fplendid,  nothing  great 

Your  admiration  claims : 
No  proud  difplay  of  wealth  or  ilate 

Your  envy  here  inflames. 

No  vain  fepulchral  pomp  is  here ; 

But  every  palling  eye 
Here  pays  the  tribute  of  a  tear, 

And  every  heart  a  figh.%* 

No  breathing  marbles  do  you  meet 

Near  this  enchanting  fpot ; 
But  Inspiration  holds  a  feat 

In  yon  Mufe-haunted  grot. 

*jff%  A  plain  Obelifk,  to  the  Memory  of  Mrs.  Pope,  with  this  infcription :     Ah 
Matrum  optima,  Mulierum  amantlffima.  Vale  I 

Delightful 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell.  109 

Delightful  Hermitage  !  where  ftill 

Some  namelefs  charm  refides  : 
But  ah !  no  more  the  murmuring  rill 

Acrofs  the  cavern  glides. 

The  Genius  of  the  grotto  fled ; 

And  left  the  mournful  ftream, 
No  longer  by  the  Mufes  fed, 

To  vanifh  as  a  dream. 

Yet  here  entranced  a  fimple  Swain 

With  rapture  feems  infpired. 
Here  Fancy  liftens  to  the  ftrain 

That  firft  my  bofom  fired. 

Methinks  I  hear  in  every  tree 

The  fluttering  Sylphs  around ; 
And  lo !  the  raviih'd  lock  I  fee, 

A  conftellation  crown'd ! 

Here,  fhelter'd  by  the  folemn  lhade, 

The  Cloifter  feems  to  rife, 
Where  Ehifa,  haplefs  Maid, 

Still  vents  her  tender  lighs. 

Here,  ihrouded  in  a  bloody  vail, 

A  more  ill-fated  Fair 
Glides  by,  and  fwells  the  hollow  gale 

With  fhrieks  of  wild  defpair. 

But  hark  ?  an  evangelic  fong 

Reechoed  from  the  Spheres, 
Here  floats  the  filver  Thames  along : 

"  A  God,  a  God  appears !" 

With 


1 10  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

With  awful  and  fublime  delight 

'This  hallow'd  ground  I  tread ; 
Where  Angels  hover  in  my  fight, 

And  whifper  o'er  my  head. 

The  next  piece  was  evidently  compofed  during  the  ftorm  of  the  revolu 
tionary  war. 

MOLLY  ODELL  ON  HER  BIRTHDAY. 

BY  HER  FATHER. 

Amidft  the  rage  of  civil  ftrife, 
The  orphan's  cries,  the  widow's  tears> 
This  day  my  rifmg  dawn  of  life 
Has  meafured  five  revolving  years. 

Unconfcious  of  the  howling  ftorm> 
No  figns  of  fhipwreck'd  peace  I  fee ; 
For  what,  with  all  its  buttling  fwarm, 
What  is  the  noify  world  to  me  ? 

My  needle  and  my  book  employ 
The  bury  moments  of  my  day  ; 
And,  for  the  reft,  with  harmlefs  joy, 
I  pafs  them  in  a  round  of  play ! 

And  if,  ere  long,  my  vacant  heart 
Is  to  be  fill'd  with  Care  and  Pain, 
Still  I  mail  bravely  bear  my  part 
While  Truth  and  Innocence  remain,* 

With 


of  Stanjbury  and  OdelL  1 1 1 

With  one  more  poem,  this  feledion  from  OdelPs  mifcellaneous  manu- 
fcripts  muft  terminate.  The  enfuing  is  chofen  as  partaking  of  an  auto 
biographical  character. 

ON  OUR  THIRTYNINTH  WEDDING-DAY; 

6TH  OF  MAY,    I  8  I O. 

Twice  nineteen  years,  dear  Nancy,  on  this  day 

Complete  their  circle,  fince  the  fmiling  May 

Beheld  us  at  the  altar  kneel  and  join 

In  holy  rites  and  vows,  which  made  thee  mine. 

Then,  like  the  reddening  Eaft  without  a  cloud, 

Bright  was  my  dawn  of  joy.     To  Heaven  I  bowed 

In  thankful  exultation,  well  affured 

That  all  my  heart  could  covet  was  fecured. 

But  ah,  how  foon  this  dawn  of  Joy  fo  bright 
Was  followed  by  a  dark  and  ftormy  night ! 
The  howling  tempeft,  in  a  fatal  hour, 
Drove  me,  an  exile  from  our  nuptial  bower, 
To  feek  for  refuge  in  the  tented  field, 
Till  democratic  Tyranny  mould  yield. 
Thus  torn  afunder  we,  from  year  to  year, 
Endured  the  alternate  ftrife  of  Hope  and  Fear ; 
Till,  from  Sufpenfe  deliver'd  by  Defeat, 
I  hither  came  and  found  a  fafe  retreat. 

Here,  join'd  by  thee  and  thy  young  playful  train, 
I  was  overpaid  for  years  of  toil  and  pain. 
We  had  renounced  our  native  boftile  more ; 
And  met,  I  truft,  ////  death  to  part  no  more  ! 
But  fait  approaching  now  the  verge  of  life, 
With  what  emotions  do  I  fee  a  Wife 
And  Children,  fmiling  with  affection  dear, 
And  think — how  fure  that  parting,  and  how  near ! 

The 


H2  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

The  folemn  thought  I  wifti  not  to  reftrain : 

Tho'  painful,  'tis  a  falutary  pain. 

Then  let  this  verfe  in  your  remembrance  live, 

That,  when  from  life  releafed,  I  Hill  may  give 

A  token  of  my  love ;  may  whifper  ftill 

Some  fault  to  fhun,  fome  duty  to  fulfill ; 

May  prompt  your  Sympathy,  fome  pain  to  mare  ; 

Or  warn  you  of  fome  pleafures  to  beware ; 

Remind  you  that  the  Arrow's  filent  flight, 

Unfeen  alike  at  noon  or  dead  of  night, 

Should  caufe  no  perturbation  or  difmay, 

But  teach  you  to  enjoy  the  paffing  day 

With  dutiful  tranquillity  of  mind ; 

Adlive  and  vigilant,  but  ftill  refign'd. 

For  our  Redeemer  liveth,  and  we  know, 

How  or  whenever  parted  here  below, 

His  faithful  fervants,  in  the  Realm  above, 

Shall  meet  again  as  heirs  of  his  eternal  love. 

The  Infcription  on  Franklin's  Stove  was  undoubtedly  written  by  Dr. 
Odell.  Independently  of  the  aflertion  of  his  family,  and  the  fact  of  a 
manufcript  verfion  in  his  handwriting,  dated  1776,  being  now  before  me, 
abundant  evidence  of  his  authorlhip  will  be  found  in  contemporaneous 
authorities.  It  is  fo  ftated  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  April,  1777  ; 
in  Towne's  Evening  Poft ;  Philadelphia,  Nov.  zpth,  1777;  inBourcher's 
View  of  the  American  Revolution  (London,  1797),  p.  449;  and  in 
Rev.  W.  Smith's  Works  (Philadelphia,  1803),  App.  to  Sermon  on 
Franklin.  But  Judge  Yeates,  writing  from  Lancafter  in  December,  1777, 
attributes  it  to  Mifs  Deborah  Norris ;  and  a  general  tradition  in  Phila 
delphia  afcribes  it  either  to  that  lady,  or  her  townfwoman  Mifs  Hannah 
Griffitts  (See  n  Mems.  Hift.  Soc.  Penn.,  pt.  2;  p.  91)  ;  both  of  them 
of  repute  as  authors.  Nor  were  thefe  the  only  fatiric  verfes  in  which 
Franklin's  lightning-rods  figured.  The  reader  will  call  to  mind  how 

Peter 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  113 

Peter  Pindar  rung  the  changes  on  the  preference  beftowed  by  George  III 
and  Sir  Jofeph  Banks  upon  blunt  over  pointed  conductors ;  the  latter 
having  been  recommended  by  Franklin  and  the  laws  of  nature  as  exclu- 
fively  fui table  for  protection  againft  electricity.  And  as  for  Odell's 
cenfure  of  Franklin's  political  courfe,  it  may,  howfoever  erroneous,  be 
extenuated  by  the  eftimation  in  which  the  latter  was  held  by  as  warm  a 
whig  as  the  former  was  a  loyalift.  In  1772,  Arthur  Lee  wrote  from 
London,  to  Samuel  Adams,  that  Franklin  (who  was  then  in  that  city)  was 
the  tool  and  not  the  dupe  of  Lord  Hillfborough's  defigns  againft  the  charter 
of  MafTachufetts.  Several  years  after,  Lee  deliberately  explains  the  cir- 
cumftances  under  which  he  made  that  ftatement :  "  That  he  could  be 
"  deceived  as  to  the  defigns  of  the  adminiftration,  I  could  hardly  believe. 
tf  That  he  was  bribed  to  betray  his  truft  I  had  not  fufpected.  It  remained, 
((  therefore,  as  the  moft  probable  conjecture,  that  he  endeavoured  to  lull  his 
ft  constituents  into  fecurity,  that  he  might  prevent  any  commotions  which 
"  would  hazard  the  lucrative  pofts  he  pofleiTed.  From  whatever  motive 
"  the  deception  fprang,  the  mifchief  of  it  was  fuchas  rendered  a  counter- 
"  action  of  it  neceflaiy.  For  that  purpofe,  the  following  letter  was  written; 
"  but  it  was  written  in  anger,  and  yet  the  experience  I  have  had  fince 
"  would  juftify  the  worft  interpretation  of  his  conduct." — Lee's  A.  Lee  ; 
i,  216,  257. 

NOTE  5,  Page  6. 

In  the  abfence  of  any  authority  of  reference  concerning  Mr.  Piercy,  I 
am  induced  to  add  fuch  notices  of  him  as  occur  to  my  hand.  He  be 
longed  to  the  methodift  branch  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  was  one 
of  the  few  of  that  clafs  who  oppofed  the  caufe  of  the  crown.  John 
Adams,  then  a  delegate  to  the  Congrefs  fitting  at  Philadelphia,  mentions 
him  in  his  Diary- under  date  of  Sunday,  Oct.  23rd,  1774:  "Heard  Mr. 
"  Piercy,  at  Mr.  Sproat's.  He  is  chaplain  to  the  Countefs  of  Hunting- 
"  don,  comes  recommended  to  Mr.  Gary,  of  Charleftown,  from  her,  as 
"  a  faithful  fervant  of  the  Lord ;  no  genius,  no  orator."  He  afterwards 

pafled 
15* 


H4  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

pafled  to  the  fouthward,  and  in  February,  1778,  is  mentioned  by  Elkanah 
Watfon  (Memoirs  ;  p.  53),  as  having  been  left  by  Whitfield  in  charge  of 
the  Orphan  Houfe  at  Bethefda,  in  Georgia.  "  We  found  the  family  of 
"  Mr.  Piercy  highly  refined  and  intelligent,  and  enjoyed  their  kind  hofpi- 
"  tality  with  much  intereft.  Meeting  people  of  their  cultivation  and 
"  delicacy  in  this  remote  and  folitary  abode,  was  the  fource  to  us  of  equal 
"  furprife  and  gratification.  The  religious  duties  of  the  evening  were  per- 
"  formed  with  great  folemnity  and  impreflivenefs.  At  the  ringing  of  a 
"  fmall  bell,  the  negroes,  with  their  children,  all  came  to  unite  with  the 
"  family  in  their  devotions."  Dr.  Piercy  was  during  the  war  a  good  deal 
in  Charlefton,  preaching  to  and  encouraging  the  American  troops.  Con- 
fequently,  on  the  fall  of  the  city  in  1780,  he  was  ordered  to  relinquifti 
his  clerical  duties ;  and  as  his  name  does  not  figure  among  thofe  of  the 
"  two  hundred  and  ten  moft  refpeftable  inhabitants "  who  addrefled  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  in  June,  1780,  we  may  conclude  that  he  took  no  pains 
to  conciliate  the  new  authorities.  In  this  fame  year  we  find  the  "  Rev. 
"  Wm.  Piercy,  clerk,"  included  as  a  rebel  in  the  difqualifying  aft  of  the 
tory  legiflature  of  Georgia. 

Paffing  to  England,  he  foon  managed  to  break  with  his  ancient  pa- 
tronefs,  Selina,  countefs  dowager  of  Huntingdon,  as  appears  from  one  of 
his  letters,  dated  Woolwich  in  Kent,  April  3rd,  1784,  now  before  me. 
He  afcribes  the  caufe  to  "  the  attempt  to  raife  a  new  Seff  or  Party, 
(C  under  her  Ladyihip's  patronage,  called  by  the  fine  name  of  S feeders,  alias 
"  Self -created  Bijbops.  But  as  I  did  not  chufe  to  expofe  myfelf  to  the  juft 
"  contempt  of  all  ferious  men  of  all  denominations,  I  ftand  now  totally 
"  unconnected  with  her  Ladylhip  :  as  me  Hands  entirely  unconnected  with 
tf  dear  Mr.  Whitefield's  places  and  all  his  people.  This  has  fo  much  dif- 
tf  pleafed  the  Countefs,  that,  with  her  great  age  and  all  together,  me  now 

"  refufes  to  fulfill  the  folemn  engagements  made  with  me  in  the  year -; 

"  which  was  to  allow  me  an  handfome  falary  as  long  as  I  was  her  minifter 
"  and  chaplain  abroad,  together  with  full  and  honourable  compenfation  for 
"  One  Hundred  a  year,  fettled  on  me  for  life,  that  I  was  under  the  neceffity 

"of 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell.  1 1 5 

"  of  forfeiting  on  her  account,  when  I  firft  left  this  Kingdom.  In  one  of 
"  the  laft  letters  which  paffed  between  us,  ihe  informed  me  fhe  was  on  the 
"  point  of  giving  up  Bethefda  to  the  States.  Indeed,  Ihe  never  will  do 
"  anything  /atiffaftorily  with  it,  fo  as  to  fulfill  Mr.  W.'s  Will;  fo  that,  in 
"  every  view,  the  State  had  better  have  it  at  once,  than  fuffer  the  whole 
"  Eftate  and  Charity  to  lay  wafte." 

Dr.  Piercy  fubfequently  returned  to  Charlefton,  and  in  1809-10  was 
preffing  his  claim  againft  Lady  Huntingdon  on  the  Bethefda  property. 
"  If  you  cannot  obtain  thofe  negroes  for  me,  the  fole  property  of  the 
"  Countefs,"  he  writes,  "  I  hope,  befides  the  specific  proportion  for  £500, 
"  you  will  try  hard  to  obtain  the  fpecific  intereft  upon  the  note."  In  1812 
he  returned  -to  England,  where  he  foon  after  died.  It  is  told  of  Dr.  Piercy 
that  being  called  on  by  feveral  of  his  congregation,  during  a  period  of  ex- 
ceffive  rains,  to  offer  up  in  his  church  the  accuftomed  prayer  for  fair 
weather,  he  replied,  after  confiderable  hefitation  and  thumbing  of  the 
almanac,  that  he  would  certainly  do  as  they  wifhed ;  but  that  the  whole 
experience  of  his  miniftry  taught  him  that  all  the  prayers  in  the  world  would 
be  inefficacious  to  procure  an  alteration  in  the  weather  until  the  moon 
changed.  For  more  concerning  him  fee  The  Life  of  Lady  Huntingdon  ; 
volume  fecond. 

NOTE  6,  Page  7. 

This  feftivity  is  thus  alluded  to  in  the  Diary  of  James  Craft  of  Burling 
ton,  as  publifhed  in  the  Hiftorical  Magazine,  vol.  i;  page  301 :  "  1776, 
7  mo.  13.  The  Englifh  Prifoners,  nearly  90  of  'em  fent  off  guarded  by 
"  1 8  men.  They  came  here  about  the  26th  of  4  mo.  laft.  They  had 
"  their  Band  of  Mufick  in  the  Ifland  on  the  4th  of  6th  mo.  And  that 
"  had  liked  to  have  made  a  Rumpus."  Probably  Major  (then  Lieutenant 
Andre)  was  one  of  thefe.  They  were  removed  from  Burlington,  as  being 
too  nearly  within  reach  of  Howe,  and  fent  to  the  interior  of  Pennfylvania. 
Under  date  of  July  I4th,  1776,  Marfhall's  Remembrancer  fays  :  "  Yefter- 
"  day  came  to  town  about  eighty  prifoners  taken  at  St.  John's,  on  their 
"  way,  it's  faid,  to  Cumberland  County." 

NOTE 


1 1 6  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  7,  Page  14. 

Due  allowance  for  the  power  of  the  poet's  imagination  muft  be  made 
while  reading  his  panegyric  on  Queen  Charlotte  and  her  "  blooming 
heavenly  line."  Wolcott  paints  her  majefty  as 

'    '  •         a  downright  flop 
Form'd  of  the  coarfefl  rags  of  Nature's  mop  ; 

and  greatly  lamented  that  "  fierce  George  Hardinge,"  her  Solicitor,  de 
terred  him  from  doing  fuller  juftice  to  her  fordid  traits.  As  for  the 
children  of  the  king  and  queen,  there  was  certainly  nothing  very 
"  heavenly  "  in  the  minds  and  morals  of  fome  of  them. 

NOTE  8,  Page  14. 

The  manner  in  which  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  celebrated 
at  the  city  where  it  was  enacted  and  in  the  earlieft  years  of  the  war,  is  a 
matter  of  fome  intereft. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1776,  Congrefs  ordered  that  copies  of  the  Declara 
tion  mould  be  tranfmitted  to  the  feveral  Aflemblies,  Conventions,  Council s 
of  Safety,  &c.,  that  it  might  be  properly  proclaimed.  On  the  6th  this 
Refolve  was  received  by  the  Philadelphia  Council  of  Safety,  which  ordered 
"  that  the  Sheriffof  Philadelphia  read,  or  caufe  to  be  read  and  proclaimed 
'.'  at  the  State  Houfe,  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  on  Monday,  the  8th  day 
"  July,  inftant,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  of  the  fame  day,  the  Declaration 
"  of  the  Reprefentatives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  that  he 
"  caufe  all  his  Officers,  and  the  Conftables  of  the  faid  City,  to  attend  the 
"  reading  thereof."  The  Council  likewife  refolved  to  attend  the  reading 
in  a  body,  and  to  invite  the  Committee  of  Infpeclion  to  be  prefent.  In 
the  latter  Committee  it  was,  on  the  6th,  refolved  fo  to  attend.  "  At  the 
"  fame  time,  the  King's  Arms  there  are  to  be  taken  down  by  nine  Aflb- 
"  ciators,  here  appointed,  who  are  to  convey  it  to  a  pile  of  cafks  creeled 
"  upon  the  commons,  for  the  purpofe  of  a  bonfire,  and  the  arms  placed 

"or 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  117 

rt  on  the  top."  As  the  public  election  for  members  of  the  State  Conven 
tion  was  to  come  off  on  the  8th,  at  the  State  Houfe,  this  meafure  was 
oppofedi  left  the  election  might  thereby  be  diflurbed,  but  it  was  carried 
in  the  committee  by  a  majority. 

Accordingly,  on  Monday,  the  8th  of  July,  1776,  "in  the  prefence  of 
"  a  great  concourfe  of  people,  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read 
"  by  John  Nixon.  The  company  declared  their  approbation  by  three 
"  repeated  huzzas.  The  King's  Arms  were  taken  down  at  the  Court 
"  Room,  State  Houfe,  at  the  fame  time.  From  there  fome  of  us  went 
"to  B.  Armitage's  tavern ;  flayed  till  one.  I  went  and  dined  at  Paul 
"  Fooks's ;  lay  [down  there  after  dinner  till  five.  Then  he  and  the 
"  French  engineer  went  with  me  on  the  commons,  where  the  fame  was 
"  proclaimed  at  each  of  the  five  Battalions.  *  *  *  Fine  ftarlight,  pleafant 
"  evening.  There  were  bonfires,  ringing  bells,  with  other  great  demon- 
"  ftrations  of  joy  upon  the  unanimity  and  agreement  of  the  declaration.'* 

On  the  night  of  Friday,  July  4th,  1777 — the  firft  anniverfary  of  our 
national  jubilee— we  are  told  by  the  Philadelphia  newfpapers  of  the  time, 
that  "  there  was  a  grand  exhibition  of  fireworks  (which  began  and  con- 
"  eluded  with  thirteen  rockets)  on  the  commons,  and  the  city  was  beau- 
"  tifully  illuminated.  Every  thing  was  conducted  with  the  greateft  order 
"  and  decorum,  and  the  face  of  gladnefs  and  joy  was  univerfal."  Not  a 
word  is  faid  in  their  news  columns  of  any  of  thofe  epifodes  that  ufually 
attend  a  civic  illumination  not  entirely  popular:  and  it  was  notorious  that 
a  very  large  part  of  the  inhabitants,  efpecially  of  the  Quakers,  were  more 
or  lefs  fecretly  hoftile  not  only  to  the  principles  but  the  meafures  of  the 
party  in  power.  The  Friends  in  particular  would  not  voluntarily  give 
either  paffive  or  active  encouragement  to  the  orders  of  Congrefs ;  and  had 
brought  themfelves  into  general  notice  by  their  refufal  to  comply  with 
the  recommendation  for  a  General  Faft,  and  fufpenfion  of  bufmefs  on  the 
1 7th  May,  1776;  by  their  murmurings  againft  the  new  order  of  things; 
and  by  their  indifpofition  to  remove  their  effects  from  the  city  in  Decem 
ber,  1776,  when  the  threatened  approach  of  Howe  put  all  the  whigs  to 

tranfporting 


1 1 8  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

tranfporting  their  effects  to  places  of  fafety.  <f  The  Friends  here,"  fays 
Marihall,  "  moved  but  little  of  their  goods,  as  they  feem  to  be  fatisfied 
"  that  if  Gen.  Howe  fhould  take  this  City,  as  many  here  imagined  that 
"  he  would,  their  goods  and  property  would  be  fafe."  To  be  fure  there 
were  many  Friends  who  took  up  arms  for  America ;  but  as  thefe  were 
almoft  all  expelled  from  the  Society  for  fo  doing,  their  conduct  ferved 
only  to  make  that  of  their  old  comrades  more  objectionable.  Accord 
ingly  the  celebration  of  the  4th  of  July,  1777,  might  reafonably  have 
been  expected  to  involve  fome  local  difturbances,  The  following  letter 
from  George  Bryan,  a  diftinguifhed  whig,  to  his  wife,  will  give  fome  no 
tion  of  the  proceedings  of  the  occafion. 

PHILADELPHIA,  4th  July,  1777. 
My  partner  and  friend : 

It  is  now  near  eight  in  the  evening.  This  has  been  a  day  of  feafting 
and  the  anniverfary  of  independence,  which  has,  as  fuch,  been  much  no 
ticed.  I  am  juft  returned  from  dining  with  Congrefs  at  the  City  Tavern. 
*  *  *  We  have  ordered  out  conftables  and  watchmen,  and  expect  two 
hundred  foldiers  to  patrole,  and  that  all  illuminations  and  bonfires  are  to 
be  put  out  at  eleven  this  night.  Perhaps  fome  diforders  may  happen,  but 
we  were  willing  to  give  the  idea  of  rejoicing  its  fwing,  The  fpirits  of  the" 
whigs  mufl  be  kept  up. 

One  thoufand  Carolinians  paraded  under  arms  in  Second  ftreet,  and 
were  reviewed  by  Congrefs  and  Generals  Gates  and  Arnold.  Two 
companies  of  artillery  and  a  company  of  Georgian  foot  performed  a  feu 
de  joie.  The  Maryland  light  horfe  attended  and  were  reviewed.  The 
gallies  and  mips  came  up  and  paid  their  compliments.  I  am,  my  deareft 
madam,  your  moft  devoted  lover  and  partner  and  friend. 

GEORGE  BRYAN. 

Mr.  Bryan's  anticipations  were  well-founded.  Although,  as  has  been 
fuggefted  the  local  newfpapers  were  perhaps  under  a  too  ominous  preflure 
of  whig  bayonets  to  venture  on  publifhing  anything  likely  to  injure  the 
caufe,  there  neverthelefs  appears,  in  the  Philadelphia  Evening  Poft  of  5th 

July, 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  1 1 9 

July,  fide  by  fide  with  the  "  order  and  decorum  "  paragraph  above  quoted, 
an  advertifement  fubfcribed  Daniel  Humphreys,  denouncing  '  a  banditti,' 
"  headed  by  three  certain  perfons  "  and  a  band  of  mufic,  that  had  broken 
his  windows,  &c.  On  the  1 2th,  Richard  Peters  in  another  advertifement 
replied  to  this  ftatement ;  and  afluming  that  himfelf  and  two  others  hold 
ing  public  employments  under  Congrefs  were  the  "  three  certain  perfons  " 
referred  to,  altogether  denied  his  complicity.  From  all  this,  and  from 
the  paflages  to  follow,  it  may  be  inferred  that  there  was  a  pretty  general 
affault  upon  the  houfes  of  fuch  obnoxious  characters  in  the  city  as  refufed 
to  light  up  their  windows  on  the  night  of  July  4th,  1777.  The  newf- 
papers  contain  nothing  further  on  the  fubjed ;  but  the  records  of  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Philadelphia  for  the  Southern  Diftri£l, 
30th,  7th  month  (July),  1777,  contain  a  report  of  the  Committee  "to 
"  advife  and  affift  fuch  of  our  members  who  might  be  fubjefted  to  fuffering 
"  for  the  teflimony  of  truth,"  which  in  a  meafure  fupplies  the  deficiency. 
"  And  likewife  on  the  evening  a  day  lately  appointed  by  the  prefent 
"  powers  for  public  rejoicing,  divers  Friends  had  their  windows  broken 
"  by  a  licentious  mob,  becaufe  they  could  not  join  with  the  multitude  in 
"  illuminating  their  windows.  But  no  account  has  been  brought  in  by 
"  any  Friend  of  the  lofs  or  damage  they  fuftained."  And  in  the  Northern 
Diftrift  there  is  a  fimilar  record.  In  both,  their  blankets  had  been  forci 
bly  taken  from  them  on  a  public  requifition,  tf  declared  to  be  for  fitting 
"  out  men  to  go  to  war."  This  was  in  confequence  of  the  local  authori 
ties  having  appointed  a  committee  to  colleft  in  the  city  and  county  of 
Philadelphia  1334  blankets  for  the  army.  The  committee  was  empowered 
to  direcl  the  proportion  to  be  taken  from  any  family,  on  payment  of  an 
appraifed  value  :  but  to  fuch  of  the  Quakers  as  would  not  receive  Con 
tinental  Paper  Money,  this  payment  was  no  great  matter.  "  The  being 
"  compelled,"  continue  the  Quakers,  "  into  a  contribution  for  fuch  a 
"  purpofe  has  been  grievous  to  honeft  minds.  And  fome  have  had  their 
"  {lock  of  this  neceflary  article  fo  reduced,  as  to  be  likely  to  want  the 
"  needful  covering  in  a  cooler  feafon."  Thefe  trials  they  fay  they  endure 

"  with 


1 20  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

"  with  a  good  degree  of  patience  and  meeknefs ;"  and  then  recite  the 
impofition  of  having  foldiers  billeted  on  them ;  their  dwellings  abufed, 
and  their  windows  broken,  &c. ;  "  becaufe  Friends  could  not  illuminate 
"  their  houfes,  and  conform  to  fuch  vain  practices,  and  outward  marks  of 
"  rejoicing,  to  commemorate  the  time  of  thefe  people's  withdrawing 
"  themfelves  from  all  fubjedlion  to  the  Englifh  government,  and  from  an 
"  excellent  Conftitution,  under  which  we  long  enjoyed  peace  and  prof- 
"  perity." — Almorfs  Remembrancer;  v,  292.  Gilpirfs  Exiles  ;  294. 

It  was  probably  becaufe  of  the  troubles  of  this  night  that,  the  next  year, 
Congrefs  and  the  Council  forbade  any  illumination  at  Philadelphia  on 
July  4th,  1778 ;  "  on  account  of  the  exceffive  heat  of  the  weather,  the 
"  prefent  fcarcity  of  candles,  and  other  confederations"  The  billeting  of 
foldiers  referred  to  above  was  probably  that  mentioned  by  Marfhall, 
under  date  of  January  25th,  1777  :  "  Great  quantities  of  backwoodfmen 
'*  coming  to  town  this  day :  fo  many  that  with  what  were  here  before, 
*'  an  order  was  iiTued  for  the  billeting  of  them  in  the  non-aflbciators* 
"  houfes,  which  was  put  into  execution  in  our  part  of  the  city."  The 
non-aflbciators  were  fuch  as  would  not  take  up  arms  for  America. 

NOTE  9,  Page  15. 

Of  General  Gates  and  Judge  Richard  Peters,  it  can  fcarcely  be  necef- 
fary  to  fay  anything.  The  latter  was  born  in  1 744,  and  was  during  a 
great  part  of  the  revolution  a  member  of  the  Board  of  War.  He  was 
always  diftinguifhed  for  his  pleafantries ;  and  acquired  a  more  enduring 
reputation  as  a  jurift  during  thirty-fix  years  of  fervice  on  the  bench  of  the 
Diftrift  Court  of  Pennfylvania,  to  which  poft  he  was  appointed  by 
Waihington. 

NOTE  10,  Page  15. 

James  Meafe  was  born  at  Strabane,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland ;  but 
came  to  Philadelphia  before  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary 

troubles. 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  121 

troubles.  He  was  a  warm  whig  from  the  outftart ;  one  of  the  originators 
of  the  Firft  City  Troop,  which  did  fuch  good  fervice  at  Trenton,  and 
which  has  never  fmce  loft  its  organization ;  and  in  1777,  Clothier-General 
of  the  American  Armies.  In  1780  we  find  him  fubfcribing  £5000  for 
the  relief  of  the  troops.  In  later  years  he  did  not  efcape  the  fatiric  lafh 
of  Cobbett.  See  Porcupine's  Works;  xi :  246,  248. 

NOTE  n,  Page  15. 

Richard  and  Thomas  Willing,  two  prominent  citizens  of  Philadelphia ; 
one  of  them  (Thomas)  was  a  partner  in  the  houfe  of  Willing  and  Morris, 
and  of  courfe  connected  with  the  extenlive  undertakings  for  furnifhing 
fupplies  to  the  army  in  which  Robert  Morris  was  fo  largely  engaged. 
The  trait  alluded  to  in  the  verfe  to  which  this  note  refers  is  alfo  recorded 
by  John  Adams  in  his  Diary  for  Sunday,  iith  September,  1774: 
"  Dined  at  Mr.  Willings.  *  *  *  A  moft  fplendid  feaft  again — turtle  and 
"  every  thing  elfe."  There  are  few  things  in  his  Works  more  amufing 
than  the  furprife  and  pleafure  which,  at  this  period  of  his  life,  Mr.  Adams 
exhibits  at  the  ftyle  of  living  he  encountered  in  the  colonies  fouth  of  New 
England  He  rarely  rifes  from  the  table  without  chronicling  its  equipage 
with  a  particularity  worthy  of  old  Pepys  himfelf ;  and  though  he  was 
undoubtedly  willing,  as  he  faid,  to  fubfift  at  Braintree  in  the  utmoft 
frugality ;  to  "  eat  potatoes,  and  drink  water,"  if  the  ftruggle  for  freedom 
mould  bring  him  to  that  neceffity,  yet  it  is  not  probable  that  he  would 
not  prefer  to  live  as  he  was  living  at  the  time  (1774)  he  made  this  pro- 
feffion — going  "  to  dine  with  fome  of  the  nobles  of  Pennfylvania  at  four 
"  o'clock,  and  feaft  upon  ten  thoufand  delicacies,  and  lit  drinking  Madeira, 
"  Claret  and  Burgundy  till  fix  or  feven."  At  this  period  there  was  pro 
bably  a  confiderable  difference  between  the  eaftern  and  the  middle  colonies 
in  their  ftyle  of  living. 

NOTE 

16 


122  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  12,  Page  15. 

This  pa flage  relates  to  the  Conftitution  of  Pennsylvania  framed  in  1776 
by  a  convention  not  regularly  authorized  fo  to  do ;  yet  under  which  the 
State  was  governed  for  feveral  years.  -In  his  animadverfions  upon  it,  the 
tory  fatirift  has  more  reafon  than  in  moft  of  his  philippics.  Graydon  fays 
that  its  principal  authors  were  George  Bryan  and  a  fchoolmafter  named 
James  Cannon ;  though  Dr.  Franklin  was  fuppofed  to  have  given  either 
his  aid  or  his  countenance  to  their  lucubrations ;  and  tradition  affirms  that 
it  was  drawn  up  in  a  lingle  night.  It  is  unneceflary  here  to  go  into  a  re 
capitulation  of  its  details.  It  mull  fuffice  to  obferve  that  it  differed  funda 
mentally  from  the  form  of  government  which  it  oufted ;  and  that  it  was 
bitterly  oppofed  not  only  by  the  tories,  the  Quakers,  and  the  "  moderate 
men,"  but  alfo  by  Cadwalader,  St.  Clair,  Morris,  and  numerous  others 
of  the  moft  diftinguiihed  among  the  whigs.  Its  own  limitations  mut  out  for 
fbme  time  any  change  in  its  provifions,  and  the  whole  power  of  the  State 
was  thus  veiled  in  its  friends.  Thus  John  Adams,  who  was  no  admirer 
of  it,  thought  it  "  agreeable  to  the  body  of  the  people;"  yet  he  could  not 
conceal  the  light  in  which  it  deferved  to  be  regarded.  "  The  proceedings 
"  of  the  late  convention,"  he  writes  fhortly  after  it  had  framed  this  conftitu- 
tion  and  diffblved,  "  are  not  well  liked  by  the  belt  of  the  whigs.  Their 
"  conftitution  is  reprobated,  and  the  oath  with  which  they  have  endeavored 
"  to  prop  it,  by  obliging  every  man  to  fwear  that  he  will  not;  add  to,  or 
ff  diminifh  from,  or  any  way  alter  that  conftitution,  before  he  can  vote, 
"  is  execrated."  It  certainly  had  one  good  effeft,  in  excluding  from  any 
political  influence  every  inhabitant  of  the  ftate  who  was  not  in  favour  of 
the  extreme  meafures  of  the  party  fupporting  Independence:  but  as  it 
alfo  excluded  many  who  were  in  favour  of  that  ftep,  and  as  it  was,  after 
all,  tyrannical  alike  in  its  birth  and  in  its  adminiftration,  it  was  a  wife 
proceeding  to  get  rid  of  it  as  foon  as  poffible.  To  be  fure  feveral  dif- 
tinguifhed  characters,  who  were  averfe  to  it  at  the  commencement,  in  time 
accepted  offices  under  it  j  but  in  fuch  cafes  the  purity  of  their  motives 

muft  be  weighed  againft  the  foundnefs  of  their  judgment. 

NOTE 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  1 2  3 

NOTE  13,  Page  16. 

This  fong  refers  to  the  following  epifode  in  our  revolutionary  hiftory. 
As  has  already  been  remarked  in  a  previous  Note,   the  conduct  of  the 
Quakers   of  Pennfylvania  was,  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  war,  extremely 
unfatiffactory  to  the  whigs.     Their  willingnefs  to  remain  at  Philadelphia 
when  the  city  was  threatened  by  Howe  in  the  winter  of  1776-7,  and 
when  every  one  at  all  active  on  the  American  iide  was  flying  with  his 
effects  to  the  country,  confirmed  the  fufpicions  already  entertained  againft 
them.     In  March,    1777,   John  Adams  writes  from  Philadelphia  that 
"  more  than  one  half  of  the  inhabitants  have  removed  into  the  country,  as 
"  it  was  their  wifdom  to  do.     The  remainder  are  chiefly  Quakers,  as  dull 
*'  as  beetles.     From  thefe  neither  good  is  to  be  expected  nor  evil  to  be* 
"  apprehended.     They  are  a  kind  of  neutral   tribe,  or  the  race  of  the 
"  infipids.     Howe  may  poffibly  attempt  this  town,  and  a  pack  of  fordid 
"  fcoundrels,  male  and  female,   feem  to  have  prepared  their  minds  and 
"  bodies,  houfes  and  cellars  for  his  reception ;  but  thefe  are  few,  and 
"  more    defpicable    in   character  than  number."     And  in  the    enfuing 
June,  he  again  reverts  to  the  impracticable  indifference  of  the  Quakers : 
"  This  town  has  been  a  dead  weight  upon  us.     It  would  be  a  dead  weight 
"  upon  the  enemy.     The  mules  here  would   plague  them  more   than  all 
"  their  money."     Mr.  Adams  had  unfortunately  for  himfelf  engaged  in  a 
logical  controverfy  with  fome  of  the  beft  informed  among  Friends  on  the 
queftions  of  the  day,  and  had  not  come   out  very  triumphantly  from  the 
encounter.     This  may  have  embittered  him  againft  them.     Accordingly 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  fummer  of  1777,  when  it  was  probable   that 
Howe  would  fpeedily  rifk  a  pitched  battle  for  the  poffeffion  of  Philadelphia, 
the  wifdom  of  fecuring  the  perfons  of  all  fuch  fufpected  characters  as  by 
wealth  or  focial  pofition   might   be  able  to   be  of  affiftance  to  him,  pre- 
fented  itfelf  ferioufly  to  the  whig  leaders.     Some  papers  containing  the  pro 
ceedings  of  a  Quaker  meeting  in  New  Jerfey  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
General  Sullivan,   and  by  him   were  tranfmitted  to   Congrefs.     Thefe 

documents 


1 24  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

documents  were  fufficient  to  give  an  opportunity  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
wifhes  of  many  of  the  whigs ;  and  it  was  refolved  (Auguft  z8th)  to  re- 
queft  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennfylvania  to  forthwith  appre 
hend  eleven  of  the  chief  Quakers  of  the  city,  named  in  the  refolution. 
The  Council  did  as  it  was  delired,  and  more.  On  the  pth  of  September, 
it  ordered  that  twenty-three  gentlemen  named  in  the  decree,  mould  be 
removed  to  Staunton  in  Virginia  and  there  fecured.  All  of  thefe  were  at 
the  time  in  confinement  at  Philadelphia,  and  were  generally  Quakers ; 
though  there  were  fome  Church  of  England  men  among  them.  The  allega 
tion  againft  them  was  that  they  had  uniformly  manifefted  a  hoftility  to  the 
United  States ;  that  they  had  refufed  to  pledge  their  allegiance  to  the 
State  of  Pennfylvania  and  to  promife  to  hold  no  correfpondence  with  the 
enemy,  and  that  they  confidered  themfelves  fubjedls  of  the  King  of  Great 
Britain.  They  were  imprifoned,  it  was  further  faid,  becaufe  they  would 
not  promife  to  remain  in  their  own  houfes  while  their  cafe  was  under  dif- 
cuffion. 

Thefe  people  endeavored  to  extricate  themfelves  by  Habeas  Corpus ; 
but  the  exercife  of  the  writ  was  fufpended  fo  far  as  they  were  concerned. 
No  expoftulations  which  they  would  make,  nor  any  effort  to  bring  their 
cafe  before  a  court  of  jurifdidlion,  availed  them.  They  were  dealt  with 
in  the  fpirit  of  martial  rather  than  common  law  ;  and  perhaps  the  exigen 
cies  of  the  times  may  have  rendered  a  difcreet  exercife  of  fuch  power, 
advifable.  Unfortunately  however  under  the  conftitution  of  1776  the 
control  of  the  State  was  then  mainly  in  the  hands  of  the  Prefbyterians, 
between  whom  and  the  Quakers,  and  to  fome  extent  the  Churchmen, 
there  was  a  long-eftablifhed  political  feud.  This  circumftance  undoubt 
edly  infpired  vindidlivenefs  on  the  one  part  and  exafperation  on  the  other. 
On  the  8th  of  September,  Adams  thus  writes  from  Congrefs :  "  You  will 
"  fee  by  the  papers  enclofed  that  we  have  been  obliged  to  humble  the 
"  pride  of  fome  Jefuits,  who  call  themfelves  Quakers,  but  who  love 
"  money  and  land  better  than  liberty  or  religion.  The  hypocrites  are 
"  endeavoring  to  raife  the  cry  of  perfecution,  and  to  give  this  matter  a 

"  religious 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  1 25 

"  religious  turn,  but  they  can't  fucceed.  The  world  knows  them  and 
"  their  communications.  Actuated  by  a  land-jobbing  fpirit  like  that  of 
"  William  Penn,  they  have  been  foliciting  grants  of  immenfe  regions  of 
"  land  on  the  Ohio.  American  independence  has  difappointed  them, 
"  which  makes  them  hate  it.  Yet  the  daflards  dare  not  avow  their  hatred 
"  to  it,  it  feems." 

In  purfuance  of  the  Order  above  mentioned,  the  prifoners  in  queftion, 
with  others  feized  on  a  like  ground,  were  exiled  to  Virginia  and  detained 
there  for  a  very  confiderable  period.  Among  thofe  fo  treated  was  Ben 
jamin  Chew,  formerly  Chief  Juftice,  of  whom  Thomas  Lynch  had  written 
to  Wafhington  on  the  I3th  November,  1775  :  "  I  am  fure  Mr.  Chew  is 
"  fo  heartily  difpofed  to  oblige  you  and  to  ferve  the  caufe,  that  nothing 
"  in  his  power  will  be  wanting."  Perhaps  the  arreft  of  fome  of  the 
number  was  rather  intended  to  prevent  their  doing  future  harm  to  the 
caufe,  than  in  punimment  for  any  offence  yet  committed.  Among  the 
names  included  in  the  Order  of  Council  is  that  of  Thomas  Wharton, 
fenior.  Thomas  Wharton,  junior,  was  Prelident  of  the  Council,  and,  as 
fuch,  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  State.  It  was  to  him  that  the 
following  charadteriftic  letter  was  addrefled  by  one  of  the  prifoners,  a 
gentleman  of  high  Handing  in  the  city. 

Hopewell,  Virginia,  March  9,  1778. — I  could  not  have  fuppofed  that 
thou  would  have  refufed  anfwering  my  letter  merely  on  account  of  its 
wanting  a  little  form.  That  this  may  not  be  neglected  for  the  fame  reafon, 
I  now  addrefs  thee  under  the  title  of  (being  only  intended  as  a  matter  of 
form), 

Friend  Wbarton, 

Thee  may  remember  that  in  the  winter  1776  I  and  my  fon  Ifaac 
were  dragged  before  the  Prefident  and  Council  of  Safety  upon  no  other 
authority  than  the  will  and  pleafure  of  a  drunken  Sergeant  and  his  guard. 
On  my  return  home  I  was  very  much  affefted  with  the  thought  that  a 
perfon  with  whom  I  was  formerly  agreeably  connected  mould  be  in  a 
fituation  the  moft  degrading  of  any  I  could  conceive :  It  being  evident 

thou 


126  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

thou  waft  under  the  influence  of  this  military  guard.  The  next  day  I 
wrote  thee  a  letter  on  the  occafion.  Whatever  then  influenced  thee  not 
to  return  an  anfwer,  I  dare  fay  thou  art  now  convinced  it  would  have  been 
better  to  have  done  it.  Hadft  thou  thought  it  worth  while  to  have  heard 
what  I  could  have  faid  on  the  occafion,  it  is  probable  I  might  have  been 
ufeful  to  thee.  With  regard  to  our  cafe,  who  have  been  condemned  and 
banifhed  without  trial ;  thofe  in  authority  have  either  not  judged  at  all, 
leaving  it  to  Congrefs  to  judge  for  them,  or  they  have  judged  moft  un- 
righteoufly. 

Notwithftanding  the  account  thee  gives  of  thy  time  being  taken  up  with 
thy  father  Fifhbourne,  &c.,  thou  figned  orders  for  our  removal  under  efcort 
of  two  of  the  Troop,  dated  Sept.  loth,  and  orders  to  Col.  Morgan  of  the 
fame  date  to  look  out  for  a  proper  perfon  to  convey  us  from  Reading  to 
Staunton  ;  alfo  a  letter  to  John  Hancock  refpefting  our  application  to 
Council  for  our  detention  at  Winchefter,  dated  1 2th  of  September. 

From  the  above  mentioned  authentic  papers,  it  is  evident  thou  haft 
been  our  enemy  ;  and  well  might  I  fay  in  my  former  letter  that  with  re 
gard  to  anything  friendly,  I  am  at  a  lofs  in  what  manner  to  addrcfs  thee. 
But  to  take  thee  on  the  ground  of  inactivity,  on  which  thou  pretended  to 
ftand,  but  on  which  in  reality  thou  didft  not — what  would  it  amount  to, 
but  that  thou  would  not  commit  the  evil  thyfelf,  but  keep  out  of  the  way, 
and  let  others  do  it  ?  A  bafe  defertion  of  the  caufe  of  the  innocent  and 
opprefled :  but  I  have  already  fhown  thy  crime  is  of  a  deeper  dye. 

Thou  ligned*  orders  for  our  removal  under  efcort  of  two  of  the  Troop. 
Now  what  evidence  hadft  thou  againft  us,  whereby  thou  wouldft  juftify 
thyfelf  in  figning  this  decree  ?  Did  the  general  charge  of  the  Congrefs, 
publilhed  in  all  the  papers,  againft  the  people  called  Quakers,  convince 
thee  of  our  guilt  ?  A  moft  lhamelefs  performance,  and  which  we  could 
have  fully  anfwered  in  a  fhort  time,  had  we  been  allowed  our  undoubted 
right  of  being  heard  in  our  defence.  And  now  I  put  it  to  thy  confcience  : 
what  could  induce  thee  to  confent  to  our  being  banifhed  for  life  ?  Thou 
couldft  not  have  believed  we  had  been  guilty  of  any  crime  that  could  de- 

ferve  fuch  punimment. 

To 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  1 27 

To  complete  this  fcene  of  iniquity,  orders  were  iflued  from  the  War 
Office  to  our  Conductors,  not  to  fuffer  us  to  diftribute  our  remonftrances. 
At  the  fame  time  thofe  charges  made  againft  us,  publifhed  by  order  of 
Congrefs,  were  difperfed  about  with  great  affiduity.  A  remarkable  in- 
ftance  of  injuflice. 

A  few  words  more,  and  I  have  done.  Before  thou  figned  this  unjuft 
decree,  did  it  not  occur  to  thee  that  thou  waft  well  acquainted  with  a 
great  number  of  us,  and  that  thou  knew  us  to  be  a  quiet,  peaceable  people, 
that  were  by  no  means  likely  to  be  concerned  in  plots,  or  in  giving  intelli 
gence  to  the  enemy  ?  But  if  any  fuch  thoughts  took  place  in  thy  mind,  it 
is  evident  they  were  not  long  cherimed  there.  Thou  figned  the  unjuft, 
the  cruel  decree,  without  giving  us  an  opportunity  of  being  heard  in  our 
defence. 

As  it  is  impoffible  this  conduct  could  proceed  from  the  love  of  juftice, 
fo  I  think  it  is  not  poffible  thou  canft  enjoy  peace  in  thy  own  mind  until 
thou  fmcerely  repents  for  the  great  injury  thou  haft  done  us,  and  makes 
us  all  the  reparation  in  thy  power.  That  thou  mayeft,  through  the  affift- 
ance  of  Divine  Providence,  be  enabled  to  witnefs  a  fmcere  repentance  and 
amendment  of  life,  is  the  defire  of  one  who,  when  that  event  takes  place, 
may  with  propriety  fubfcribe  himfelf  thy  real  friend, 

EDWARD  PENINGTON. 

In  good  footh,  any  perfon  feized  on  this  occafion,  whofe  confcience 
did  not  convict  him,  had  great  reafon  for  indignation  ;  but  there  was  no 
ground  for  their  fears  who  efteemed  it  a  religious  perfecution,  and  in  the 
mind's  eye  beheld 

Proteftant  Parfons  whipp'd  and  fcofPd  at, 
Quakers  and  Methodifts  thump'd  and  fton'd. 

NOTE 


128  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verjes 

NOTE  14,  Page  16. 

The  power  claimed  before  the  war  by  the  Britifh  Parliament,  of  tranf- 
porting  to  England  for  trial  perfons  charged  with  the  commiffion  of  cer 
tain  offences  in  this  country ;  and  of  in  many  cafes  depriving  the  fubjeft  of 
the  benefit  of  trial  by  jury ;  were  efpecial  American  grievances,  and  are 
recapitulated  as  fuch  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

NOTE  15,  Page  17. 

This  paflage  again  refers  to  the  allegation  that  the  revolt  in  the  colonies 
was  the  work  of  the  Prefbyterians  and  their  Congregational  brethren  in 
New  England,  and  defigned  for  their  efpecial  benefit. 

NOTE  1 6,  Page  17. 

During  its  colonial  exiftence,  Pennfylvania  had  a  paper  currency  to 
fupply  the  neceflities  of  its  people ;  fpecie  not  being  always  fufficiently 
abundant.  The  bills  were  iffued  by  virtue  of  afts  of  the  legiflature,  ap 
proved  by  the  crown  and  containing  certain  provifions  for  their  redemp 
tion.  They  were  loaned  in  various  amounts  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
ftate  on  mortgage  fecurity,  and  thus  readily  went  into  circulation;  and 
feem  really  to  have  been  of  great  fervice  to  the  community.  When  the 
continental  paper  bills  however  began  to  be  ifTued,  very  many  perfons 
refufed  to  receive  them ;  and  of  courfe,  on  Howe's  occupation  of  Phila 
delphia,  their  circulation  was  entirely  prohibited.  Such  of  the  inhabitants, 
however,  as  adhered  to  the  old  order  of  things,  and  who  had  alfo,  in  all 
probability,  accumulated  a  confiderable  fum  in  the  Provincial  (or  as  it 
was  called  Legal}  Paper  Money,  faw  no  reafon  why  this  fort  of  currency 
mould  not  continue  in  its  former  value.  Some  time  elapfed  after  the 
Britifh  army  was  feated  in  the  city  before  the  fleet  of  men  of  war  and  of 
tranfports  from  New  York,  led  by  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  could  force  a 
paffage  up  the  Delaware,  which  was  for  the  period  commanded  by  the 

American 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  129 

American  fortifications  on  the  banks :  and  during  this  ftate  of  fufpenfe, 
as  nothing  could  be  fettled  until  Sir  William  Howe  was  in  a  condition  to 
keep  his  communications  with  the  fea  open,  the  queftion  of  the  circula 
tion  of  Legal  Paper  Money  remained  undecided.  When  the  fleet  finally 
arrived,  it  brought  quantities  of  goods  to  fupply  the  exhaufted  markets  of 
Philadelphia ;  and  they  who  had  the  difpofal  of  them  at  once  declared 
they  would  receive  nothing  but  gold  and  filver  in  payment.  If  it  be  true, 
as  the  poet  urges,  that  "  the  merchant-ft  ranger  "  perceived  the  improba 
bility  of  Legal  Paper  Money  ever  being  redeemed,  becaufe  not  only  of 
the  lands  mortgaged  for  their  redemption  being  chiefly  in  the  hands  of 
the  whigs,  but  alfo  by  reafon  of  the  mortgage-deeds  themfelves  being 
withdrawn;  there  was  certainly  good  ground  for  their  opinion.  The 
citizens  urged,  on  the  one  hand,  that  the  bills  were  iflued  under  laws 
fanftioned  by  the  King;  that  they  had  long  been  the  common  circulating 
medium  in  the  province ;  that  their  fuppreffion  would  be  alike  difaftrous 
to  individuals,  by  deftroying  their  only  wealth,  and  to  trade,  by  oufting 
the  only  medium  adequate  to  its  neceffities ;  and  that  even  the  army  itfelf 
would  fuffer,  if  all  bills  on  England  had  to  be  paid  for  here  in  gold  and 
filver.  Their  opponents,  the  ftorekeepers  who  came  by  the  fleet,  were 
equally  perfiftent,  and  in  the  end  prevailed.  There  is  great  reafon  to 
believe  that  Sir  William  Howe  was  fecretly  concerned  with  Coffin,  one  of 
the  ftrangers  mentioned  in  the  text,  and  had  a  large  mare  in  his  gains : 
and  for  this  caufe  he  may  have  been  willing  to  difcountenance  a  paper- 
money  that  would  only  be  valuable  so  long  as  he  himfelf  was  victorious. 

In  the  piece  to  which  this  note  relates,  it  would  feem  as  though  Stanf- 
bury  had  been  willing  to  indulge  in  a  little  irony  at  the  expenfe  of  his 
fellow  loyalifts,  by  verifying  the  language  of  a  petition  to  Howe  from 
fome  of  the  advocates  for  the  reftoration  of  the  old  paper  currency,  and 
at  the  fame  time  interpolating  the  anfwers  of  its  adverfaries. 

NOTE 


1 30  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  17,  Page  18. 

The  year  1759  was  diftinguifhed  in  America  by  the  great  fuccefles 
gained  over  the  French  by  the  Britifh.  Ticonderoga,  Niagara  and 
Quebec  were  taken,  and  the  way  made  clear  for  the  downfall  of  French 
power  in  Canada. 

NOTE  1 8,  Page  19. 

The  accuftomed  night-watch  of  the  city  was  of  courfe  infufficient  to 
preferve  the  peace  on  occafion  of  twelve  or  fifteen  thoufand  ftrangers  being 
added  to  its  population ;  and  the  firft  days  of  Howe's  occupation  were 
marked  by  conftant  thefts  and  burglaries.  It  was  not  confidered  defirable 
to  eftabliih  a  military  patrol  in  place  of  a  civil  police  ;  fo  Howe  appointed 
a  number  of  citizens  to  be  Commiffioners  of  the  Watch,  and  to  increafe 
its  numbers  and  efficiency.  Of  thefe  Stanfbury  was  one.  But  as  the 
men  would  not  receive  their  pay  in  the  paper  money,  which  would  buy 
them  nothing  in  the  mops;  and  as  the  Commiffioners  had  no  other  to 
give  them ;  there  arofe  an  opportunity  of  bringing  the  matter  before  the 
Englifh  General. 

NOTE  19,  Page  19. 

This  mutt  refer  to  an  Addrefs  of  Congratulation  to  Howe  on  his  arrival 
at  Philadelphia,  and  to  the  refufal  of  people  to  fign  it  until  he  had  fecured, 
fo  far  as  in  him  lay,  the  value  of  their  local  currency  by  placing  it,  if  not 
on  a  par,  at  leaft  in  a  due  proportion  to  fpecie  as  a  legal  tender. 

NOTE  20,  Page  19, 

Faithful  to  their  principles,  the  Quakers  of  Philadelphia  were  the  only 
clafs  there  refolute  not  to  be  moved  by  the  events  of  war.  When  Howe 
actually  took  pofleffion  of  the  city  in  1777,  their  conducl  was  fimilar  to 
that  which  they  difplayed  in  the  preceding  year  when  he  threatened  to 

advance 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  1 3 1 

advance  upon  it  through  the  Jerfeys.  Robert  Morris  has  vividly  painted 
the  fcene  on  the  latter  occafion,  in  a  letter  to  the  Commiflioners  at  Paris, 
dated  Philadelphia,  21  ft  December,  1776  :  "  This  city  was  for  ten  days 
"  the  greateft  fcene  of  diftrefs  that  you  can  conceive :  everybody  but  the 
"  Quakers  were  removing  their  families  and  effects,  and  now  it  looks 
"  difmal  and  melancholy.  The  Quakers  and  their  families  pretty  gene- 
"  rally  remain,"  etc.  On  Howe's  entrance  in  1777,  he  iflued  a  number 
of  proclamations  refpedling  the  requirements  of  the  army,  the  police  to  be 
maintained,  and  the  like ;  a  complete  collection  of  which  is  now  before 
me.  One  of  them  relates  to  the  occafion  of  this  Epigram,  and  as  but  one 
hundred  copies  of  it  were  ftruck  off  for  pofting,  and  probably  no  other 
examplar  exifts,  it  is  tranfcribed  here  at  large. 

"  Philadelphia,  Qttober  31,  1777.  Five  or  Six  Hundred  Blankets  are 
"  Wanted  for  the  Troops.  The  Inhabitants  are  requefted  to  furnifh  that 
"  Number  to  the  Barrack-Mafter,  who  will  pay  for  them,  or  return  them 
"  in  a  few  Days."  So  foon  as  the  fleet  got  up,  it  was  doubtlefs  an  eafy 
matter  to  reftore  blanket  for  blanket ;  but  it  is  as  eafy  to  imagine  that  in 
fuch  cafes  old  lamps  are  generally  exchanged  for  new.  It  is  problematical 
whether  Friends  did  not  feel  as  feniibly  the  injury  of  being  called  on  to 
fupply  blankets  to  the  Englilh  foldiery  as  to  the  American :  but  they  did 
not,  at  all  events,  complain  of  it  fo  warmly. 

NOTE  21,  Page  20. 

Many  of  the  circumftances  referred  to  in  this  Song,  are  related  in  a 
preceding  Note.  In  order  to  bolfter  up  the  circulation  of  the  paper 
money  iflued  under  the  proprietary  government,  feveral  hundred  citizens 
of  Philadelphia  had  fubfcribed  an  Agreement,  dated  October  ift,  1777, 
whereby  they  promifed  to  take  it  at  certain  fixed  rates :  an  Englifh  guinea 
to  be  eftimated  at  thirty-five  millings,  Pennfylvania  currency,  for  inftance ; 
a  Spanifh  dollar  at  feven  and  fixpence,  and  the  like.  The  lift  of  figners 
gives  fome  notion  of  the  families  who  remained  in  town  when  Howe 
drew  near.  Stanfbury  was  of  courfe  one  of  them. 

The 


132  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

The  fong  itfelf,  though  fet  to  a  jingling  nurfery  air,  has  its  interefl  as 
fhowing  how  matters  were  carried  on  at  the  time.  The  Philadelphia 
market  was  almoft  bare  of  many  articles  of  neceffity,  and  ofalmoft  all  of 
luxury,  when  the  Britiih  came  in.  That  of  New  York  was  in  a  better 
condition  j  and  from  it  and  from  England  cargoes  were  waiting  to  be 
difcharged  on  the  wharves  at  Philadelphia  fo  foon  as  opportunity  offered. 
Of  courfe  the  profits  were  to  be  heavy ;  the  more  fo,  as  being  confined  to 
a  favoured  few.  On  the  8th  Auguft,  1777,  a  writer  from  New  York 
fays  :  "  For  fame"  time  paft  the  demand  for  goods  of  all  forts,  and  the 
"  high  prices  given  for  them,  has  made  the  fortunes  of  thofe  who  brought 
"  out  cargoes  with  them.  This  lucrative  traffic  has  been  confined  to  a  few 
"  favourites,  chiefly  Scotchmen.  It  was  thought  the  Britifh  Prohibitory 
"  A61  would  have  prevented  the  arrival,  in  America,  of  all  Britifh  goods ; 
"  but  fo  far  from  it,  that  Aft  has  thrown  the  whole  trade  into  the  hands  of 
"  a  few  who  make  a  monopoly  of  it.  But  the  departure  of  the  fleet  and 
"  army,  which  has  carried  off  24,000  people,  foldiers,  failors,  and  at- 
"  tendants,  together  with  a  proclamation  iflued  out,  prohibiting  all  inter- 
"  courfe  with  the  Jerfeys,  has  made  trade  very  dull  of  late ;  however, 
"  many  of  thofe  who  came  out  lately,  and  have  not  got  their  cargoes  fold, 
"  are  refhipping  their  goods,  to  be  ready  to  fail  whenever  intelligence 
"  arrives  of  Sir  William  Howe  having  made  good  his  landing,  where  they 
"  intend  to  difpofe  of  their  goods  to  great  advantage."  The  character  of 
the  fupplies  mentioned  in  the  Song  is  amufing ;  and  the  arrival  of  the  fleet 
of  tranfports  is  fpoken  of  as  reftoring  to  the  docks  of  Philadelphia  their 
former  appearance  of  commercial  profperity.  But  there  muft  have  been 
a  great  fcarcity  of  many  of  the  ordinary  ftaples  of  traffic  before  Howe 
appeared,  as  may  be  gathered  from  the  fa6t  of  the  importation  of  Irifh 
beef:  an  article  that  had  been  theretofore  prized  for  feaftores  in  this 
country,  but  not  for  confumption  on  fhore,  where  our  own  cattle  were 
abundant.  "  For  long  voyages,"  fays  the  teftimony  before  the  Embargo 
Committee  in  1777,  "Irifh  beef  is  preferred  in  America  becaufe  it  keeps 
"  better :  there  is  not  the  fmalleft  probability  of  its  being  preferred  for 
"  the  army." — Almorfs  Remembrancer,  vm  :  207. 

NOTE 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  133 

NOTE  22,  Page  22. 

If  the  whigs  of  America  had  their  troubles  during  the  war,  it  mufl  not 
be  fuppofed  that  the  tories  flept  upon  a  bed  of  rofes.  At  Philadelphia 
even,  where  there  were  hundreds  fufpedled  of  loyal  proclivities,  a  tory 
was  held  by  the  whigs  in  1774  as  "  the  moft  defpicable  animal  in  the 
"  creation.  Spiders,  toads,  fnakes,  are  their  only  proper  emblem."  So 
long  as  they  continued  paffively  loyal,  they  were  fubjecled  to  affronts  and 
indignities,  but  when  hoftilities  became  adtive,  they  felt  the  full  weight  of 
whig  difpleafure.  It  is  but  fair  to  add  that  on  their  fide  they  were  not 
remifs  in  feeking  to  injure  their  opponents.  Every  record  of  the  time 
throws  more  or  lefs  light  on  this  fad  condition  of  affairs ,  the  inevitable 
confequence  of  a  civil  war  in  any  form  or  degree.  Thus  Marfhall  enters 
in  his  Diary,  January  21  ft,  1777  ;  "Deal  of  floating  ice  in  the  river,  fo 
"  as  to  prevent  the  plunder  of  a  number  of  Tories  in  the  Jerfies  (part  of 
"  which,  it's  faid  to  the  amount  of  thirtyfeven  wagons,  is  arrived  at  Wil- 
"  liam  Cooper's  ferry,  &c.),  from  being  brought  over  to  this  city."  The 
tories  in  New  Jerfey  were  far  more  a6live  than  their  Pennrylvania  friends. 
In  1777,  we  find  Alexander  Hamilton  urging  Governor  Li vingfton  to 
vifit  with  exemplary  punifhment  all  fuch,  taken  in  arms  or  employed  in 
enlifling  men  for  the  Britifh  fervice :  and  while  Livingfton  hanged  them 
for  treafon  againft  the  ftate  when  opportunity  offered,  Wafhington  him- 
felf  faw  the  neceffity  of  ftringent  meafures  againft  the  moft  atrocious 
offenders,  and  thus  wrote  to  Congrefs :  "  In  this  ftate,  I  have  ftrong 
"  affurance  that  the  fpirit  of  difaffe&ion  has  rifen  to  a  great  height;  and 
"  I  ihall  not  be  difappointed  if  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  in  fome 
"  of  the  counties  mould  openly  appear  in  arms,  as  foon  as  the  enemy 
"  begin  their  operations." 

NOTE 


1 34  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  23,  Page  23. 

Sir  William  Howe's  bittereft  enemies  never  denied  him  the  pofleffion 
of  "  thofe  military  abilities  which  were  demonftrated  in  his  manoeuvres 
"  on  Long  Ifland  and  the  Brandy  wine,  and  that  undaunted  courage  which 
"  was  fo  apparent  in  the  action  at  Bunker's  Hill."  But  his  warmeft 
friends  muft  have  perceived  in  his  conduit  of  the  American  campaign,  an 
alloy  of  ignoble  traits  that,  under  Cromwell  or  Napoleon,  would  have 
brought  a  commanding  general  to  a  very  difgraceful  end. 

In  confidering  his  career  in  America  it  muft  be  borne  in  mind  that  great 
refults  were  at  firft  expected  by  his  brother,  Lord  Howe,  and  himfelf, 
from  the  pacific  powers  with  which,  as  Royal  Commiffioners,  they  were 
inverted.  It  is  very  probable  that  Lord  Howe,  who  was  a  purer  charac 
ter  than  Sir  William,  counted  a  great  deal  on  the  influence  of  Dr.  Franklin 
and  fome  other  leaders  in  the  American  councils  in  favour  of  bringing 
about  an  accommodation.  His  interviews  with  Franklin  on  this  fubject, 
while  the  latter  was  yet  in  England,  as  related  by  the  doctor  himfelf,  could 
not  have  infpired  him  with  very  ftrong  faith  in  the  fuccefs  of  fuch  an 
undertaking :  yet  we  muft  remember  that  each  party  may  have  looked  at 
the  event  in  a  different  light.  It  is  certain  that  Lord  Howe  took  every 
preliminary  ftep  that  was  in  his  power  to  gain  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Americans  ;  among  other  evidences  of  which  is  the  following  letter  (which 
I  believe  has  not  been  publifhed)  from  Mr.  De  Berdt,  to  James  Kinfey, 
Efq.,  of  the  New  Jerfey  Legiflature. 

London,  May  5,  1776.  Sir:  My  Brother  in  Law  Jofeph  Read  Efq. 
having  particularly  informed  me  the  honor  your  Aflembly  has  done  me 
by  choofing  me  their  Agent  in  November  laft,  and  how  the  obligation 
was  encreafed  by  the  unanimity  of  the  choice,  give  me  leave  Sir  with  the 
acknowledgment  of  the  favor  to  attempt  fome  proof  of  my  attachment 
and  regard  to  your  Province  and  Country. 

I  would  inform  you  that  from  public  report  there  was  the  greateft 

reafon 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  135 

reafon  to  believe  Lord  Howe  who  is  going  out  to  America  commander  in 
chief  of  his  Majefties  Forces,  &ca,  &ca,  had  defigns  the  moft  friendly  & 
intentions  of  accommodating  the  unhappy  differences  without  violence. 
t  therefore  did  myfelf  the  honor  to  wait  upon  him  and  was  fo  confirmed 
in  my  belief  of  what  I  had  heard  and  fo  fully  fatiffied  from  his  Lordfhip's 
converfation  that  he  accepted  his  commiflion  folely  with  a  view  to  effedt 
Peace,  that  I  cannot  help  communicating  to  you  a  propofal  which  I  am 
confident  is  the  wifh  &  defire  of  his  Lordfhip  &  I  think  is  your  duty  and 
intereft.  I  do  not  write  this  merely  as  matter  of  opinion  or  recom 
mend  it  as  a  prudent  ftep  only ;  but  propofe  it  from  a  full  conviction  of 
my  judgement  that  it  is  reafonable — that  it  is  right — and  further  I  have 
affurances  that  it  will  be  accepted  and  that  no  unreafonable  conceflions 
will  be  requefted. 

And  tho'  it  is  prefumable  that  his  Lordfhip's  inftruftions  are  confined 
within  the  aft  of  Parliament  appointing  Commiflioners  yet  it  is  generally 
believed  he  has  fuch  difpenfing  powers  that  with  a  difpofition  to  treat  he 
is  authorized  to  compromife  &  adjuft. 

What  I  mean  is  that  immediately  on  Lord  Howe's  arrival  a  Parly  or 
Conference  be  propofed  between  him  and  certain  Deputies,  from  among 
you  to  converfe  on  the  ftate  of  public  affairs  as  Gentlemen  &  Friends. 

The  general  report  in  England  of  his  peacefull  intentions  confirmed 
from  private  conferences  with  fome  of  your  friends  who  have  wrote  to 
you  on  the  fubjeft  begging  that  the  matter  may  be  taken  into  your  moft 
ferious  confideration  and  the  particular  refpeft  which  the  people  of 
America  bear  his  Lordfhip  and  Family,  added  to  his  amiable  character 
as  an  Officer  and  a  Gentleman  furely  a  parly  may  be  brought  about  for 
fome  fuch  reafbns  in  which  the  dignity  of  his  country  will  not  be  affecled 
nor  the  honour  of  America  called  in  queftion. 

My  real  regard  for  America,  my  wilh  for  peace  and  reconciliation,  my 
faith  in  Lord  Howe's  perfonal  affurances  and  my  defire  of  giving  early 
proof  to  your  honorable  Houfe  of  AfTembly  that  their  appointment  is 
fallen  upon  a  Man  who  will  ever  make  it  the  ftudy  of  his  Life  to  promote 

the 


136  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

the  welfare  and  happinefs  of  his  conftituents,  thefe  motives  &  thefe  alone 
influence  my  Heart  &  adluate  my  Conduft. 

However  infuccefffull  this  humble  attempt  of  mine  may  prove,  I  beg  it 
may  be  remembered  as  a  proof  of  my  good  wifhes  and  intentions.  I  beg 
you  will  communicate  this  to  the  Houfe^as  poffible  and  to  accept  my 
affurances  of  efteem  &  regard.  I  am  your  obliged  and  obedient  hble 
fervt.  DENNIS  DE  BERDT. 

Favored  by  Lord  Howe. 

With  fuch  credentials  Lord  Howe  departed  on  his  miffion,  in  expecta 
tion,  no  doubt,  of  procuring  an  accommodation.  In  a  contemporaneous 
manufcript  notebook  of  George  Chalmers,  I  find  this  memorandum : 
"  C.  Stewart  fays — that  Lord  H —  having  been  aflured  by  Dr.  Franklin, 
"  what  would  fatiffy  the  Colonies,  made  it  a  point  that  he  mould  be 
*'  empowered  to  grant  thefe.  He  was  empowered.  He  took  privateers 
"  on  his  voyage,  but  difmiiled  them,  defiring  them  to  fay;  Lord  H — was 
1 '  to  make  peace.  He  told  Arbutbnot,  at  Halifax,  that  peace  would  be 
"  made  within  ten  days  after  bis  arrival"  Had  he  arrived  in  feafon,  it  is 
within  the  limits  of  poffibility  that  he  might  have  effeded  fomething,  if 
we  may  draw  any  inferences  from  the  anxiety  displayed  by  the  advocates 
for  Independence  in  Congrefs  to  propagate  the  belief  that  there  were  no 
fuch  Commiffioners  coming  at  all ;  and  the  attention  that  was  given  to  the 
report  by  others  who  were  not  fo  warm  in  that  caufe.  "  We  are  waiting, 
"  it  is  faid,"  fays  Adams  in  April,  1776,  "  for  commiffioners ;  a  meffiah 
"  that  will  never  come.  This  flory  of  commiffioners  is  as  arrant  an  illu- 
"  fion  as  ever  was  hatched  in  the  brain  of  an  enthufiaft,  a  politician,  or  a 
"  maniac.  I  have  laughed  at  it,  fcolded  at  it,  grieved  at  it,  and  I  don't 
"  know  but  I  may,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  have  rip'd  at  it.  But  it  is 
"  in  vain  to  reafon  againft  fuch  delufions.  I  was  very  forry  to  fee,  in  a 
"  letter  from  the  General  [Walhington]  that  he  had  been  bubbled  with 
"  it ;  and  ftill  more,  to  fee,  in  a  letter  from  my  fagacious  friend,  W. 
"  [James  Warren]  at  Plymouth,  that  he  was  taken  in  too."  But  Com 
miffioners  were  coming,  and  it  would  be  rendering  flight  juftice  to  New 

England 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  137 

England  aftutenefs  not  to  believe  her  delegates  knew  it.  It  is  not  at  all 
improbable,  in  the  opinion  of  fome,  that  before  the  arrival  of  Sir  William 
Howe  at  Sandy  Hook  on  the  25th  of  June,  and  of  Lord  Howe  at  Staten 
Ifland  on  the  1 2th  July,  the  profpect  of  encountering  them  as  fellow- 
fubjedts  and  negotiators,  inftead  of  as  foreigners  and  enemies,  had  been 
fully  confidered  j  and  that  the  neceffity  of  committing  the  colonies  through 
their  reprefentatives,  to  an  extent  that  would  put  an  accommodation  out 
of  the  queftion,  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  enactment  on  the  2nd 
July,  of  the  refolution  declaring  "  that  thefe  United  Colonies  are,  and  of 
"  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States."  And  accordingly, 
though  the  Howes  waited  for  overtures  from  the  whigs  ere  they  com 
menced  hoftilities,  and  even  directly  invited  juft  fuch  a  conference  with 
members  of  congrefs  as  had  been  recommended  by  De  Berdt  (who  pro 
bably  was  their  mouthpiece  in  his  letter),  yet  congrefs  was  now  able  to 
point  to  its  record,  and  refufe  to  negotiate  fave  on  the  footing  of  inde 
pendency. 

In  the  warfare  that  prefently  enfued,  Sir  William  Howe  frequently  dif- 
played  good  generalfhip :  in  fact  it  appears  as  though,  when  he  himfelf 
felt  that  he  muft  fight,  his  abilities  were  fuperior  to  thofe  of  any  or  all  of 
his  opponents.  But  he  omitted  to  puih  his  victories,  and  feemed  deter 
mined  to  leave  the  Americans  at  leaft  the  nucleus  of  an  army.  After 
defeating  the  Americans  on  Long  Ifland,  a  vigorous  night-attack  on  their 
works  would  probably  have  demoliihed  our  army ;  inftead  of  which,  the 
next  day  faw  them  efcaped  to  the  main  land.  After  the  reduction  of  Fort 
Wafhington,  when  Greene  retreated  with  the  garrifon  of  Fort  Lee  left  it 
fhould  {hare  the  fame  fate,  Thomas  Payne,  who  was  with  the  troops,  was 
of  opinion  that  Howe  committed  another  overfight,  in  not  detaching  a 
force  from  Staten  Ifland  through  Amboy,  whereby  Greene's  retreat  into 
Pennfylvania  might  have  been  cut  off,  and  the  American  magazines  at 
Brunfwick  captured.  "  But,"  pioufly  adds  Payne,  "  if  we  believe  the 
"  power  of  hell  to  be  limited,  we  muft  likewife  believe  that  their  agents 
"  are  under  fome  providential  controul."  The  criticifms  of  a  civilian  on 

military 

18 


138  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

military  affairs  may  not  be  worth  much.  Fortunately  I  have  before  me  a 
feries  of  manufcript  memorandums  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  on  the  events 
and  conduct  of  the  war,  that  may  better  teft  the  value  of  Howe's  fervices. 
Of  the  meafure  that  led  to  the  American  victories  of  Trenton  and  Princeton, 
Sir  Henry  obferves :  "  There  were  who  thought  (and  were  not  filent) 
"  that  a  chain  acrofs  Jerfey  might  be  dangerous.  General  Howe  wrote 
"  to  General  Clinton  thus  a  few  days  before  the  miffortune  :  '  I  have  been 
"  prevailed  upon  to  run  a  chain  acrofs  Jerfey :  the  links  are  rather  too  far 
"  afunder.'  *  *  *  I  am  clear,"  Clinton  continues,  "  it  would  have  been 
"  better  if  Sir  William  Howe  had  not  taken  a  chain  acrofs  Jerfey." 

Of  the  maraudings  in  1 776-7  of  the  Englifh  in  the  Jerfeys,  Clinton  fays : 
"  Unlefs  we  could  refrain  from  plundering,  we  had  no  bufmefs  to  take 
"  up  winter  quarters  in  a  diftrift  we  wilhed  to  preferve  loyal,  The 
"  Heffians  introduced  it." 

Of  Howe's  movement  from  New  York  againft  Philadelphia,  he  ob 
ferves  :  "  I  owe  it  to  truth  to  fay  there  was  not,  I  believe,  a  man  in  the 
"  army  except  Lord  Cornwallis  and  General  Grant  who  did  not  reprobate 
"  the  move  to  the  fouthward,  and  fee  the  neceffity  of  a  cqoperation  with 
"  General  Burgoyne." 

Of  Howe's  fuffering  Waihington  to  retreat,  comparatively  unpurfued  at 
the  moment,  from  the  field  of  Brandywine :  "  'Tis  pity  Sir  William 
"  Howe  could  not  have  begun  his  march  at  nightfall,  inftead  of  eight 
"  o'clock  in  the  morning." 

Of  Howe's  crowning  the  campaign  with  the  occupation  of  Philadelphia  : 
f<  General  Clinton  told  Lord  George  Germain,  April  27th,  and  Sir 
f(  William  Howe  repeatedly,  after  his  return  to  America,  his  humble 
*'  opinion  that  Philadelphia  had  better  clofe  than  open  the  campaign,  as 
"  it  required  an  army  to  defend  it." 

Of  the  battle  of  Germantown  and  the  check  to  the  Americans  occa- 
fioned  by  Mufgrave's  throwing  himfelf  with  a  few  companies  into  Chew's 
Houfe,  Sir  Henry  makes  a  remark  that,  while  it  mews  on  what  chances 
the  fate  of  a  battle  may  turn,  does  not  at  all  fupport  Howe's  afleveration 

that 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  1 39 

that  his  army  was  not  furprifed :  "Had  Washington  left  a  corps  to  ob- 
"  ferve  this  houfe,  and  proceeded,  there  is  no  faying  what  might  have 
"  been  the  confequerice." 

But  enough  has  been  quoted  to  exhibit  Sir  William's  deficiencies: 
what  their  caufe  was  is  another  queftion.  Tradition  affigns  a  bafe  motive 
to  him,  in  the  aflertion  of  a  defire  to  increafe  his  fortune  in  procrafti- 
nating  the  war,  through  underhand  arranegments  with  thofe  to  whom 
he  affigned  the  privileges  of  trade,  and  others.  He  is  faid  to  have  been 
the  fecret  partner  of  Coffin,  a  great  trader  under  the  royal  flag.  Harm 
as  this  fufpicion  may  found,  it  is  confirmed  by  Horace  Walpole's  language 
to  Sir  Horace  Mann,  in  1778  :  "  General  Howe  is  returned,  richer  in 
"  money  than  in  laurels ;"  and  by  that  of  Adams,  a  year  earlier : 
"  Thefe  two  Howes  were  very  poor,  and  they  have  fpent  the  little  for- 
"  tunes  they  had  in  bribery  at  elections ;  and  having  obtained  feats  in 
"  Parliament,  and  having  fome  reputation  as  brave  men,  they  had  nothing 
"  to  do  but  to  carry  their  votes  and  their  valor  to  market,  and,  it  is  very 
"  true,  they  have  fold  them  at  a  high  price."  During  the  period  of  his 
command  in  America,  there  was  fuch  a  corrupt  mifmanagent  of  the  fifcal 
concerns  of  his  army,  as  ftaggered  even  a  Scottifh  placehunter.  "  The 
"  peculation  in  every  profitable  branch  of  the  fervice,"  wrote  Wedder- 
burn  in  1 777-8,  "is  reprefented  to  be  enormous,  and  as  ufual,  it  is  attended 
* '  with  a  mocking  negleft  of  every  comfort  to  the  troops.  The  hofpitals 
"  are  peflhoufes,  and  the  provifions  ferved  out  are  poifon :  thofe  that  are 
"  to  be  bought,  are  fold  at  the  higheft  prices  of  a  monopoly."  It  is  eafy 
to  fee  how,  in  this  flate  of  affairs,  a  venal  commander  might  make  his 
own  bargains  with  thofe  with  whom  he  would  combine  to  defraud  his 
followers  and  his  country.  There  is  no  pofitive  evidence,  however,  that 
Howe  was  guilty  in  this  regard :  the  only  proof  we  have  is  fuch  as  has 
been  recited  and  fuch  loofe  aflertions  as  that  contained  in  the  goffip  of  the 
times ;  a  fpecimen  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  Verfes  circulated  in 
Edinburg  in  May,  1778,  on  occafion  of  equipping  a  new  Scots  regi 
ment,  and  commencing,  How  art  tkou  fallen,  poor  John  Still! — in  which 
reference  is  made  to  the  Americans 

Who 


140  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

Who  force  thee  from  thy  native  right, 
Becaufe  thy  Heroes  will  not  fight : 
(Perfidious  men !  who  millions  gain 
By  each  pro  traded,  flow  campaign !) 

Sir  Nathaniel  Wraxall  fpeaks  very  plainly  of  the  eftimate  he  put  upon 
Sir  William  and  his  brother ;  they  were  "  either  lukewarm,  or  remifs,  or 
"  negligent,  or  incapable.  Lord  North's  fele&ion  of  thefe  two  com- 
"  manders  excited,  at  the  time,  juft  condemnation.  However  brave, 
"  able,  or  meritorious  they  might  individually  be  efteemed  asprofeffional 
"  men,  their  ardour  in  the  caufe  itfelf  was  doubted,  and  flill  more  quef- 
"  tionable  was  their  attachment  to  the  adminiftration.  Never,  perhaps, 
"  in  the  hiftory  of  modern  war,  has  an  army  or  a  fleet  been  more  pro- 
"  fufely  fupplied  with  every  requifite  for  brilliant  and  efficient  fervice, 
"  than  were  the  troops  and  fliips  fent  out  by  Lord  North's  cabinet,  in 
"  1 776,  acrofs  the  Atlantic.  But  the  efforts  abroad  did  not  correfpond 
"  with  the  exertions  made  at  home.  The  energy  and  activity  of  a 
"  Wellington  never  animated  that  torpid  mafs.  Neither  vigilance,  enter- 
"  prife,  nor  cooperation  characterized  the  campaign  of  1776  and  1777. 
"  Diffipation,  play,  and  relaxation  of  difcipline  found  their  way  into  the 
"  Britifh  camp." 

The  fecret  of  the  appointment  may  have  been  that  North,  knowing 
the  profeffional  abilities  of  the  men ;  the  efteem  in  which  their  relation- 
Ihip  to  the  Howe  who  was  flain  in  America  during  the  Seven  Years' 
War  entitled  them  to  be  held  in  that  country ;  their  political  connexions 
with  the  Whigs  in  England ;  and  perhaps,  their  kindred  (on  the  wrong 
fide  of  the  blanket,  it  is  true — and  indeed  the  fame  was  whifpered  of  the 
premier  himfelf — )  to  the  fovereign ;  was  influenced  by  one  or  all  of 
thefe  confiderations  to  beftow  on  them  the  pofts  in  queftion.  To  carry 
this  through,  arrangements  had  to  be  made  in  regard  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
the  commander  in  Canada,  who  was  Howe's  fenior  officer — an  older 
foldier,  and  perhaps  a  better ;  at  all  events  a  more  zealous  and  adlive  one. 
Indeed,  fuch  was  Howe's  fluggifhnefs  and  love  of  pleafure  in  almoft  every 

form 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  141 

form  (fee  Coll.  Hift.  Soc.  Penn.,  i,  1 20),  that  it  is  no  great  praife  to  fay 
thus  much  of  Carleton.  Sir  Walter  Scott  quotes  from  an  old  fong  in  one 
of  his  letters 

General  Howe  is  a  gallant  commander, 
There  are  others  as  gallant  as  he ; 

and  in  Simcoe,  a  mere  grenadier  captain  of  the  4<Dth,  under  Sir  William's 
command,  the  fluff  might  have  been  found  for  a  leader  who,  in  Sir 
William's  place,  would  have  given  a  different  turn  to  events.  By  the  end 
of  the  winter  of  1 777-8,  the  miniftry  gave  their  general  to  underfland 
that  they  were  very  ill  content  with  what  he  had  done,  or  rather  with  what 
he  had  left  undone  ;  and  his  pride  or  his  prudence  at  once  took  umbrage. 
He  already  looked  on  Clinton  as  a  rival;  and  had  thus  addreffed  Lord 
George  Germain  on  this  head  :  "  I  am  led  to  hope  that  I  may  be  re- 
"  lieved  from  this  very  painful  fervice,  wherein  I  have  not  the  good 
"  fortune  to  enjoy  the  neceffary  fupport  and  confidence  of  my  fuperiors , 
"  but  which,  I  conclude,  will  be  extended  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  my  pre- 
"  fumptive  fucceffor.  By  the  return  of  the  packet  I  humbly  requeft  I 
"  may  have  his  Majefty's  permiffion  to  refign."  When  the  permiffion 
came,  however,  he  difcovered,  if  we  are  to  believe  that  the  American 
general  Charles  Lee  rightly  interpreted  his  fentiments,  that  he  had  all 
along  been  made  ufe  of  as  an  inftrument  of  minifterial  wickednefs  and 
folly.  Nothing  can  be  more  charafteriftic  than  the  portrait  Lee  draws 
of  Sir  William :  "  He  is  naturally  good  humored,  complaifant,  but  illite- 
"  rate  and  indolent  to  the  laft  degree,  unlefs  as  an  executive  foldier,  in 
"  which  capacity  he  is  all  fire  and  activity,  brave  and  cool  as  Julius  Casfar. 
"  His  underftanding  is,  as  I  obferved  before,  rather  good  than  otherwife, 
"  but  was  totally  confounded  and  ftupified  by  the  immenlity  of  the  tafk 
"  impofed  upon  him.  He  fhut  his  eyes,  fought  his  battles,  drank  his 

"  bottle,  had  his  little ,  advifed  with  his   counfellors,  received  his 

"  orders  from  North  and  Germaine  (one  more  abfurd  than  the  other), 
"  took  Galloway's  opinion,  fhut  his  eyes,  fought  again,  and  is  now,  I 

"  fuppofe, 


142  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

tf  fuppofe,  to  be  called  td  account  for  acting  according  to  inft  ructions.'* 
Lee  thought  that  the  conflict  between  Wafhington  and  Howe  had  refolved 
itfelf  into  a  trial  of  the  efficacy  of  their  refpeftive  blunders.  "  It  feemed 
"  to  be  a  trial  of  fkill,  which  party  ihould  outdo  the  other,  and  it  is  hard 
"  to  fay  which  played  the  deepeft  ftrokes ;  but  it  was  a  capital  one  of 
"  ours,  which  certainly  gave  the  happy  turn  which  affairs  have  taken. 
tf  Upon  my  foul,  it  was  time  for  Fortune  to  interpofe^  or  we  were  inevit- 
"  ably  loft."  So  far  as  his  treatment  of  Americans  was  concerned, 
Howe's  blunders  were  indeed  capital.  He  incenfed  the  whigs  by  his 
feverities :  he  repelled  the  loyalifts,  by  putting  as  little  confidence  in  them 
as  might  be,  and  difcouraging  their  organization  and  aclion  in  arms ;  and 
he  wafted  his  time  in  futile  efforts  to  open,  through  the  medium  of  Sulli 
van,  Lee,  Willing,  and  other  whigs,  negotiations  with  Congrefs.  He 
returned  to  England  unpopular  alike  with  the  miniftry  and  the  nation, 
although  followed  by  the  applaufe  of  thofe  whom  he  had  commanded. 
Even  at  Nottingham,  his  own  town,  he  was  not  acceptable  to  the  inhabit 
ants.  Unlike  his  brother,  who  lived  to  do  his  country  brilliant  fervice 
and  to  add  a  frefher  luftre  to  the  maritime  glory  of  England,  Sir  William 
was  never  again,  fo  far  as  is  generally  known,  inverted  with  command. 
He  appears  to  have  fucceeded  to  this  brother's  Irifh  Vifcounty  (the  Eng- 
lifh  peerage  failing,  for  lack  of  a  fon  to  its  pofleflbr)  and  died  in  1814. 

NOTE  24,  Page  24. 

Though  Difcord,  your  generous  zeal  to  oppofe, 

Shall  nourifh  fedition  and  hate, 
Till  your  Friends  feel  the  horrors  of  War  with  your  Foes, 

Your  fuccefs  is  enfur'd  you  by  Fate. — Author's  Variation. 

NOTE  25,  Page  25. 

Hermes'  Wand  the  fierce  Snakes  could  no  longer  unite ; 

Its  Virtues  they  wholly  defied : 
The  branch  of  the  Olive  did  only  affright, 

To  fee  it  at  random  applied. — Author's  Variation. 

Perhaps 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  143 

Perhaps  there  may  be  an  allufion  here  to  the  broken  Snake,  with  the 
motto   Unite  or  Die,  fo  much  in  vogue  at  the  time  as  a  patriotic  device. 

NOTE  26,  Page  29. 

The  efforts  of  the  Philadelphians  to  obtain  the  commercial  reftoration 
of  their  colonial  paper  currency  have  been  dwelt  upon  in  a  previous  note. 
This  poem  commemorates  the  failure  of  their  endeavours. 

NOTE  27,  Page  29. 

While  the  ftyle  of  Dr.  Smith's  Oration  may  have  recommended  it  to 
the  loyal  bard,  it  probably  loft  nothing,  in  his  eftimation,  by  the  circum- 
ftance  of  its  author  lofing  grace  in  the  eyes  of  Congrefs.  "  The  oration 
"  was  an  infolent  performance,"  fays  Mr.  Adams.  "  A  motion  was 
"  made  to  thank  the  Orator,  and  afk  a  copy,  but  oppofed  with  great  fpirit 
"  and  vivacity  from  every  part  of  the  room,  and  at  laft  withdrawn,  left 
"  it  mould  be  rejected,  as  it  certainly  would  have  been,  with  indignation. 
"  The  Orator  then  printed  it  himfelf,  after  leaving  out  or  altering  fome 
"  offenfive  paflages.  This  is  one  of  the  moft  irregular  and  extravagant 
<(  characters  of  the  age.  I  never  heard  one  fingle  perfon  fpeak  well  of 
"  anything  about  him  but  his  abilities,  which  are  generally  allowed  to  be 
"  good.  The  appointment  of  him  to  make  the  oration  was  a  great  over- 
"  fight  and  miftake."  The  objection  urged  in  Congrefs  to  the  motion 
was  that  the  Orator  had  declared  them  to  be  ftill  anxious  for  a  dependency 
upon  Great  Britain.  The  motion  was  fuftained,  though  fruitleflly,  by 
William  Livingfton,  Duane,  Thomas  Willing,  James  Wilfon,  &c. 

NOTE  28,  Page  30. 

— Nor  loft  or  dead  or  founder'd  Horfe  : 

I  would  to  Heaven  it  were  no  worfe. 

But  fain  I  muft  your  Patience  afk 

While  I  perform  the  mournful  tafk  j 
•«— So  mournful,  I  could  weep,  my  honey— - 

Alas !  the  Death  of  Paper  Money.— Author's  Variation. 

Whether 


144  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

Whether  Howe  or  Mongomery  be  aimed  at  in  the  firft  part  of  the 
paragraph  referred  to  by  this  note,  the  reader  may  decide.  Perhaps  the 
poet,  in  no  very  amiable  mood  at  the  time,  when  Howe's  conduft  had 
reduced  to  worthleflhefs  the  moneybags  of  many  of  the  citizens,  may  have 
purpofely  dealt  in  an  ambiguous  expreffion.  As  to  the  Want  of  Bread 
which  threatened  him  and  his  friends,  left  thus  in  the  lurch  without  availa 
ble  funds,  the  prices  that  provifions  bore  in  Philadelphia  at  that  period 
would  feem  to  warrant  his  alarm.  Before  the  Americans  withdrew,  the 
better  clafles  had  been  forced  in  great  meafure  to  relinquifh  the  ufe  fo 
Weft  India  goods.  "  Milk  has  become  the  breakfaft  of  many  of  the 
"  wealthieft  and  genteeleft  families  here."  Loaf  fugar  fold  then  at  four 
dollars  a  pound ;  brown  fugar  of  the  pooreft  quality  at  a  dollar ;  and 
New  England  rum  at  forty  millings  a  gallon.  After  the  royal  army  en 
tered  the  city,  and  before  the  arrival  of  the  fleet,  beef  was  at  three  and 
nine  pence  (half  a  dollar)  and  butter  at  feven  and  fix  pence  (one  dollar) 
the  pound ;  and  this  in  fpecie.  And  before  the  winter  was  over,  even 
thefe  difficult  times  were  made  more  arduous  to  be  endured.  In  February, 
1778,  flour  commanded  three  guineas  the  hundred  weight,  and  all  other 
provifions  were  at  a  proportional  rate.  Congrefs  had  made  it  a  capital 
felony  for  any  inhabitant  of  Pennfylvania  or  New  Jerfey  to  fupply  provi 
fions  to  Philadelphia,  and  the  American  patrolling  parties  made  it  an 
efpecial  point  to  cut  off"  all  fuch  perfons  as,  tempted  by  the  prices  their 
commodities  brought  in  that  market,  would  feek  to  evade  or  defy  the 
decree.  As  the  troops  were  well  furnifhed  with  garrifon  rations,  this 
prohibition  fell  moil  feverely  on  the  citizens  of  the  town ;  and  its  rigour 
forced  a  parliamentary  admiffion  of  its  injuftice  from  Marlhal  Conway, 
one  of  the  fteadieft  opponents  of  the  Englifh  miniftry.  He  ftated  cor- 
re&ly  the  military  principle  "  that  when  the  hope  of  fubduing  an  enemy 
"  by  ftarving  made  the  penalty  of  fupplying  them  with  provifions  death, 
"  then  thofe  who  were  the  trefpaflers  did  it  at  their  peril,  and  the  general 
"  who  publilhed  the  order  was  juftified  :  but  in  no  other  cafe."  In  thefe 
ftraits,  the  leading  Quaker  gentry  of  Philadelphia  were,  it  is  faid,  com 
pelled 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  145 

pelled  to  make  applications  to  Dr.  Fothergill  and  others  of  their  perfuafion 
at  London,  for  relief,  to  be  repaid  at  the  end  of  the  troubles. 

NOTE  29,  Page  30. 
With  grief  the  Mufe  proceeds  and  tells. — Author's  Variation. 

NOTE  30,  Page  35. 

On  the  zpth  of  January,  1778,  Sir  James  Wallace  of  the  Experiment 
(a  fourth-rater  of  fifty  guns),  brought  as  a  prize  into  New  York  the  Lady 
Margaret,  a  Dutch  veflel  of  600  tons,  commanded  by  Captain  De  Ruyter 
and  bound  from  Cadiz  to  Carolina  on  account  of  Congrefs.  Her  cargo 
chiefly  confided  in  5000  pounds  of  Jefuit's  Bark  ;  wine;  fait;  brandy; 
cordage ;  linens ;  tea  ;  medicines ;  and  mercer's  ware  :  articles  of  the  firft 
necefTity  to  our  army.  The  prize  was  a  rich  one ;  and  there  was  an  ad 
ditional  fatiffadlion  to  the  royalifts  in  its  detection  while  engaged  in  the 
trade  with  the  Americans  that  it  was  well  known  France  and  Holland 
were  covertly  carrying  on.  - 

As  for  Wallace  himfelf,  he  feems  to  have  been  a  brutal  fort  of  a  fea- 
dog;  fomething  after  the  now  happily  obfolete  ftyle  of  Sir  Hawfer  Trun 
nion.  "  His  character  upon  the  coaft  was  that  of  being  brutal  and  info- 
"  lent  beyond  his  peers,"  fays  one  of  his  acquaintance  :  and  his  behaviour 
on  more  was  that  of  a  man  who  would  fwear  at  a  lady  and  bully  a  clergy 
man  or  a  Quaker.  On  one  occafion,  at  a  fupper  table  in  Philadelphia, 
he  purfued  a  Quaker  with  a  deal  of  vulgar  raillery  and  farcafm,  till  the 
latter  was  tempted  to  refort,  if  not  to  the  weapon  of  the  carnal  Adam,  at 
leaft  to  that  of  the  reprefentatives  of  our  mother  Eve.  "  Captain,"  faid  the 
"  friend,  thou  haft  made  very  free  with  me,  and  aiked  me  a  great  many 
"  queftions,  which  I  have  endeavoured  to  anfwer  to  thy  fatiffaclion  :  wilt 
"  thou  now  permit  me  to  afk  thee  one  in  my  turn  ?"  "  Oh,  by  all  means," 
anfwered  Sir  James ;  "  any  thing  that  you  pleafe,  friend — what  is  it  ? 
"  Why,,  then,  I  wiih  to  be  informed  what  makes  thee  drink  fo  often  ? 

"  Art 


146  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

"  Art  thou  really  dry,  every  time  thou  carrieft  the  liquor  to  thy  mouth  ?" 
"  What,"  fcreamed  Wallace  in  a  gufl  of  rage — "  what !  do  you  think  I 
"  am  a  hog,  only  to  drink  when  I  am  dry  !"  The  Quaker  retreated 
under  a  volley  of  oaths,  fatiffied  no  doubt  With  the  homethruft  he  had  in- 
flidled.  Wallace  was  however  a  good  failor ;  and  though  he  and  the 
Experiment  were  taken  by  D'Eftaing's  fleet  in  September,  1779,  ne  was 
foon  at  fea  again.  Indeed  the  Experiment  itfelf  is  reported  as  being  at 
Gibraltar  in  June,  1780,  and  in  July  Wallace  himfelf,  in  command  of 
the  Nonfuch,  juft  after  completing  the  deftruftion  of  the  Legere,  a  French 
frigate,  was  fo  lucky  as  to  fall  in  with  and  capture  La  Belle  Poule,  re 
nowned  in  naval  fong  for  her  encounter  with  the  "  faucy  Arethufa."  In 
1783  he  made  a  fenfation  in  London  by  profecuting  to  conviction  Mr. 
Bourne,  of  the  Marines,  for  an  aflault,  to  the  unqualified  difguft  of  the 
corps :  which  pafled  a  refolve  that  no  gentleman  bearing  his  majefty's 
commiflion  ought  to  go  out  with  a  man  who,  having  been  publicly  caned, 
£ff c.,  thought  fit  to  feek  for  his  redrefs  in  a  Court  of  Juftice. 

NOTE  31,  Page  35. 

You  Tories  compare  thefe  poor  devils  to  Mites,  who  always  deftroy 
the  fubftance  that  gives  them  life  and  fupport.- — Author's  Note, 

NOTE  32,  Page  35. 

The  Experiment  man  of  war  commanded  by  Sir  James.— Author's 

Note. 

NOTE  33,  Page  3 5. 

Brandy  won't  fave  them — "as  the  faying  is."  %*  The  Ship's  Cargo 
confifted  of  the  above  mentioned  articles. — Author's  Note. 

NOTE 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  147 

NOTE  34,  Page  36. 

Such  aflbciations  as  the  Church-and-King  club  were  not  of  unufual 
occurrence  with  the  loyalifts.  They  were  generally  defigned  to  bring 
together  at  the  dinner  table  a  party  of  men  whofe  political  fentiments 
were  in  unifon.  In  this  inftance,  the  members  were  probably  Philadel- 
phians,  who  had  followed  the  royal  flandard  to  New  York:  the  phrafe, 
9 its  all  the  fame  in  Dutch,  being  a  local  expreffion  arifmg  from  the  num 
bers  of  German  fettlers  in  Pennfylvania.  To  the  firil  two  lines  of  the 
burthen  the  author  gives  a  variation ; 

Let  old  Diogenes  fettle  the  nation ; 

He  ne'er  had  a  drop  of  good  wine  in  his  tub. 

NOTE  35,  Page  36. 

The  allufion  to  the  Howes  in  this  verfe  is  fufficiently  clear.  The 
capture  of  Burgoyne's  army  at  Saratoga,  and  his  dinner  with  General 
Gates,  is  alfo  referred  to. 

NOTE  36,  Page  36. 

It  was  frequently  declared,  at  this  period,  by  the  advocates  of  England, 
that  Congrefs  had  given  fecretly  fome  fort  of  a  lien  upon  part  of  the 
American  territories  to  France,  as  a  fecurity  for  the  affiftance  afforded  us 
by  that  power.  Of  courfe  there  was  no  truth  in  the  report.  The  ex 
ultations  of  the  Americans,  and  of  Congrefs  in  particular,  was  however 
(and  naturally  fo)  very  great,  at  the  proipecl:  of  the  refults  to  flow  from 
fuch  a  connexion  as  the  confederation  had  now  formed.  The  firft  anni- 
verfary  of  the  day  on  which  the  Treaty  was  ligned  was  celebrated  by  a 
banquet  given  by  Congrefs  to  the  French  Minifter ;  at  which  the  King 
and  Queen  of  France,  the  King  of  Spain,  and  all  the  Princes  of  the 
Houfe  of  Bourbon,  were  formally  toafted,  under  falvos  of  artillery.  On 

the 


148  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

the  8th  of  May,  1778,  Congrefs  had  iffued  an  addrefs  to  the  people,  in 
which  the  certainty  of  victory  over  England  was  proclaimed,  and  a  warm 
picture  given  of  the  profperity  which  would  then  attend  the  deftinies  of 
the  United  States. 

NOTE  37,  Page  39. 

Nothing  more  vigourous  than  The  Town  Meeting  is  to  be  found  among 
all  the  loyal  fatires  produced  during  the  revolutionary  war;  nor  was  its 
popularity  furpafled  by  that  of  any  other  of  its  clafs.  That  it  hit  the  whigs 
feverely,  and  that  its  perfonalities  were  fhrewdly  aimed,  is  evident  to  any 
one  familiar  with  the  hiftory  of  the  times :  and  Stanfbury's  familiarity 
with  the  people  and  politics  of  Philadelphia  enabled  him  to  eafily  bring 
into  fuccenTul  ridicule  many  of  thofe  fubordinate  characters  of  the 
drama.—*-G/aut:umque,  Medontaque,  TberJilocbutnque-*—vf}iQ  rarely  figure 
in  ifolated  pofitions  on  the  pages  of  hiftory.  The  refult  has  been  ftated 
in  an  earlier  Note ;  the  refentment  of  this  clafs  fubfifted  in  ftrength  fuffi- 
cient  to  prevent  his  return  to  the  city  after  the  Peace,  while  that  of  more 
important  characters  had  long  faded  away.  Men  who  are  unaccuftomed  to 
public  admiration  are  generally  unforgiving  of  public  cenfure,  or  farcafm. 

Unlike  the  majority  of  the  author's  productions  that  have  appeared  in  this 
volume,  The  Town  Meeting  is  not  printed  from  his  original  inanufcript. 
But  as  it  was  firft  publifhed  under  his  own  infpection,  that  text  has  been 
taken  as  a  ftandard  for  comparifon  with  a  number  of  contemporaneous 
manufcript  copies  in  various  hands.  One  of  thefe,  formerly  among  the 
papers  of  the  late  Edward  Duffield  of  Moreland,  was  printed  feveral  years 
lince,  in  an  edition  of  ten  copies,  by  the  late  Edward  D.  Ingraham ;  viz  : 
The  Town  Meeting  :  A  Tory  Squib.  From  the  Copy  found  among  the 
Papers  of  the  late  Edward  Duffield,  Efquire,  of  Moreland.  Le  bon  vieux 
temps.  Philadelphia,  1837.  8  vo.  pp.  8. 

Another,  though  a  flightly  incorrect  verfion  is  given  in  Watfon's  Annals 
of  Philadelphia,  n  ;  204. 

To  properly  comprehend  the  verfes,  the  condition  of  affairs  exifting  in 


the 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  149 

the  city  at  the  period  mufl  be  prefent  to  the  reader.  The  new  conftitution 
of  Pennfylvania,  adopted  in  1776,  was  bitterly  oppofed  by  the  moderate 
whigs,  and  alfo  by  almoft  every  one  who  was  not  an  active  whig.  It  was 
fupported  in  great  meafure  by  what  John  Adams  called  "  the  democratic 
"  party."  That  it  was  firft  conceived  or  put  forward  to  gratify  the  de- 
fires  of  the  wealthier  and  graver  clafles  of  the  population  is  improbable. 
There  were  whifpers  that  it  was  the  fruit  of  the  promptings  of  certain 
New  England  delegates  in  Congrefs,  who  were  diflatiffied  with  any  line 
likely  to  be  purfued  by  an  Aflembly  chofen  exclufively  by  electors  with  a 
freehold  qualification ;  and  who  therefore  devifed  thefe  means  of  procuring 
an  alteration  in  the  character  of  the  provincial  legiflature.  If  there  was  any 
truth  in  this  fuggeftion,  John  Adams  could  not  have  been  involved  in  the 
bulinefs,  for  he  had  no  good  opinion  of  the  new  frame  of  government. 
His  colleague  Samuel  Adams,  however,  intrigued  fo  keenly  to  faddle  it  on 
a  community  of  which  he  was  not  a  citizen,  as  to  provoke,  according  to 
Gordon,  fome  perfons  "  to  drop  diilant  hints  of  an  affaffination."  Once 
in  operation,  its  power  was  wielded  exclufively  by  the  people  that  had 
procured  its  adoption ;  and  if  fome,  who  at  firft  decried  its  fuitability  to 
the  wants  and  the  rights  of  the  inhabitants,  afterwards  became  its  ex 
pounders,  it  was  becaufe  there  was  no  other  means  of  obtaining  civil 
authority  in  the  State  than  by  the  aid  of  the  new  party.  . 

In  the  mean  time,  the  financial  condition  of  the  country  was  producing 
an  effect  on  the  minds  of  men.  Up  to  1779,  there  had  been  emitted,  by 
Congrefs,  about  fixty  millions  of  dollars  in  paper  money,  which  was  then 
in  circulation  and  unredeemed.  There  was  alfo  due  by  the  United  States, 
for  moneys  borrowed,  about  forty  millions  more.  The  terms  of  the 
articles  of  confederation  gave  Congrefs  no  fufficient  power  to  raife  the 
means  of  difcharging  thefe  debts  :  indeed,  all  the  ftates,  though  reprefented 
in  that  body,  had  not  as  yet  confented  to  the  Confederation.  At  the 
period  in  queftion,  the  Continental  Treafury  had  received  in  all  but  about 
three  millions  of  dollars  for  taxes.  It  is  therefore  very  plain  that  the  Con 
tinental  Paper  Money  could  have  had  no  other  commercial  value  than  what 

arofe 


150  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

arofe  from  the  common  confent  to  give  and  take  it  in  fome  proportion  or 
other  to  its  nominal  value.  Tender  laws,  which  compelled  creditors  to 
receive  it,  or  have  their  debts  cancelled  by  refufal,  ferved  only  to  injure  a 
certain  number  of  mortgagees  or  bondholders ;  they  could  not  endow  thd 
paper  money  with  vitality.  Nothing  of  courfe  could  do  this  but  a  reafonable 
ground  of  belief  in  its  eventual  redemption  by  the  United  States ;  and  the 
practical  comment  upon  the  juftice  of  fuch  a  belief  may  be  feen  in  the 
bufhels  of  bills  that  cumbered,  within  the  recollection  of  the  prefent 
generation,  more  than  one  old  garret.  Accordingly,  the  value  of  the 
notes  iflued  by  Congrefs  was  daily  decreafing  through  all  the  war :  fo  that 
while  in  1 780  three  hundred  pounds  in  this  currency  would  buy  a  dog,  and 
three  thoufand  an  ox  and  a  half  and  a  few  eggs ;  in  1781,  feven  hundred 
pounds  in  paper  reprefented  but  ten  in  fpecie ;  and  a  mob  is  faid  to  have 
paraded  through  the  ftreets  of  Philadelphia  with  colors  flying  and  cock 
ades  of  paper  dollars  in  their  hats,  efcorting  a  dog  which  had  been  tarred 
and  then  ftuck  over,  not  with  feathers,  but  with  congreflional  paper  money. 
In  the  next  year  this  currency  found  its  real  value,  at  which  it  has  re 
mained  ever  fmce. 

The  compulfory  laws,  which  forced  creditors  to  receive  this  money, 
could  have  produced  no  good  effect:  on  the  morals  of  the  community. 
Watfon  obferves  that  one  of  the  worft  ufes  to  which  it  was  put  "  was  to 
"  prefent  it  as  '  a  legal  tender,*  to  pay  with  almoft  no  value  what  had  been 
"  before  purchafed  for  a  bona  fide  valuable  confideration.  Many  bafe  men 
"  fo  acquired  their  property :  efpecially  when  '  to  cheat  a  tory '  was  deemed 
"  fair  prize  with  feveral.  Houfes  flill  ftand  in  Philadelphia,  which,  could 
"  their  walls  fpeak  out,  would  tell  of  ilrangely  inconfiderable  values  re- 
"  ceived  for  them  by  the  fellers.  The  large  double  houfe,  for  inftance, 
"  at  the  north-weft  corner  of  Second  and  Pine  ftreets,  was  once  purchafed, 
"  it  was  faid,  with  the  money  received  for  one  hogshead  of  rum.  The 
"  lot  in  Front,  below  Pine,  whereon  four  or  five  large  houfes  ftood,  called 
"  Barclay's  Row,  was  fold  for  £60  only  of  real  value."  When  however 
the  continued  depreciation  of  the  bills  had  reached  a  point  that  rendered 

their 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode  II .  1 5 1 

their  own  pofleflions  unfafe,  the  whigs  generally  began  to  be  uneafy. 
Day  by  day  its  value  decreafed  with  the  increafe  of  its  amount.  A  man 
might  fell  a  barrel  of  flour  for  a  hundred  pounds  today,  and  tomorrow  it 
would  coft  him,  to  repurchafe  it,  a  hundred  and  twenty.  Naturally,  the 
prices  of  all  forts  of  commodities  were  regulated  by  the  value  of  the  money 
with  which  they  were  to  be  bought.  The  fmall  dealers,  who  to  a  great 
extent  fold  their  own  produce,  were  juft  as  careful  to  follow  the  fcale  of 
depreciation  as  the  extenfive  merchant  whofe  warehoufes  were  filled  with 
goods.  But  as  the  latter  very  often  fought  to  obtain  the  control  of  the  market 
by  fecuring,  for  the  time  being,  the  command  of  the  fupply,  he  was  con- 
ftantly  liable  to  fall  within  the  category  of  foreftallers  and  monopolifts. 
To  prevent,  therefore,  the  depreciation  of  the  money,  the  authorities  of 
the  day  contemplated  the  limitation  of  prices ;  while  the  government  of 
Pennfylvania,  in  January,  1779,  declared  its  intention  of  enforcing  the 
heavieft  penalties  againft  foreftallers.  Unfortunately,  however,  there 
would  appear  to  have  been  fuch  a  fpice  of  partizan  politics  infufed  into 
the  confideration  of  this  branch  of  the  queftion  as  to  give  room  to  fuppofe 
at  the  time  that  private  as  well  as  public  motives  would  enter  into  the 
enforcement  of  thefe  penalties.  Robert  Morris  was  then  held  in  great 
diflike  by  the  party  in  the  commonwealth  that  he  was  oppofed  to ;  and 
he  was  alfo  the  principal  holder  of  flour  among  the  merchants.  He  had, 
at  this  period,  a  contract  for  procuring  large  quantities  of  that  article  for 
the  French  fleet.  In  furtherance  of  their  objects,  a  town  meeting  was 
held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  25th  of  May,  1779.  The  popular  excite 
ment,  already  fufficiently  great,  was  ftimulated  to  fever  heat  by  a  parade 
of  the  militia  on  the  day  previous,  as  narrated  by  the  poet  in  Canto  Firft : 
the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  itfelf  are  in  a  meafure  told  in  Canto  Second. 
But  as  it  may  not  be  amifs  to  give  a  connected  account  of  the  conclufion 
as  well  as  of  the  beginning  of  this  bufmefs,  this  Note  will  be  carried  to  a 
greater  length.  I  have  before  me  a  broadfide  account  of  the  occafion, 
evidently  publifhed  by  authority  of  the  officers  of  the  day  for  the  informa 
tion  of  the  public.  The  Chairman,  General  Roberdeau,  after  a  fpeech 


152  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verjes 

in  which  the  evils  of  foreftalling  were  dwelt  upon ;  the  orator's  ^convic 
tion  declared  that  a  combination  had  been  formed  for  raifmg  the  prices  of 
goods  and  provifions ;  the  neceffity  of  fuch  combinations  being  put  down 
by  the  people  aflerted ;  and  the  fact  expatiated  on,  that  during  the  pail 
fix  months  prices  had  rifen  week  by  week :  then  introduced  a  feries  of 
refolutions  that  had  been  prepared  beforehand  by  a  committee  of  citizens. 
Thefe  pointed  out  Robert  Morris  by  name  as  the  oftenfible  actor  in 
bringing  about  the  recent  rife  of  prices,  and  ordered  that  a  committee 
mould  inveftigate  his  conduct,  and  that  he  mould  anfwer  in  writing  the 
interrogatories  to  be  put  to  him :  that  the  prices  of  Weft  India,  goods,  tea, 
flour,  &c.,  mould  inftantly  be  reduced  to  the  rates  of  May  ift;  that 
offenders  againft  thefe  refolutions  mould  be  noticed  by  the  committee ; 
that  the  conduct  of  fufpedted  public  officers  under  Congrefs  be  examined 
into  by  another  committee ;  that  all  perfons  "  inimical  to  the  intereft  and 
"  independence  of  the  United  States"  mould  be  expelled  from  the  com 
munity,  &c.  Thefe  refolutions  were,  after  fome  debate,  agreed  to. 
On  the  next  day  (May  26th),  General  Jofeph  Reed,  Mr.  Bayard,  and 
fome  others,  prefented  a  memorial  to  Congrefs  on  the  fame  fubjects  as  had 
occafioned  the  meeting :  it  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  which  John 
Dickinfon  was  chairman ;  and  an  anfwer  prefently  appeared  that  was  not 
at  all  fatiffadtory  to  thofe  who  prefented  the  memorial.  On  the  2 6th  of 
May,  the  Committee  appointed  at  the  Town  Meeting  on  the  25th,  pub- 
limed  a  tariff  of  prices ;  at  which  rates  only  were  people  to  be  permitted 
to  buy  and  fell.  In  June,  another  and  a  yet  lower  tariff  was  adopted, 
and  the  Committee  made  its  power  felt  by  feveral  of  the  chief  merchants, 
whofe  conduct  had  not  tallied  with  the  will  of  the  people.  Morris  in 
efpecial  was  the  fubjedt  of  indignation.  His  own  ftatement  of  his  pofition, 
and  of  the  difturbances  to  which  his  bufmefs  had  been  fubjected,  will  be 
found  in  the  local  newfpapers  of  the  day.  On  the  26th  July,  the  Com 
mittee,  through  William  Bradford,  Efq.,  its  chairman,  publifhed  an  Ad- 
drefs,  in  which  the  juftice  and  expediency  of  their  conduct  was  maintained, 
and  the  fact  declared  that  the  refult  of  the  Town  Meeting  in  May  had 

been 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  153 

been  to  put  a  flop  to  the  depreciation  of  paper  money.  The  remonftrance 
of  eighty  merchants  who  avowed,  in  the  opening  of  their  reprefentation, 
that  fince  the  days  of  the  Stamp  Act  they  had  been  fleady  and  decided 
whigs,  was  publiihed  about  the  fame  time.  It  was  more  reafonable  than 
the  Addrefs  of  the  Committee,  but  it  produced  lefs  effect.  It  was  in  vain 
that  they  urged  that  they  had  to  contend,  in  making  their  purchafes,  with 
the  fame  depreciation  that  their  cuilomers  were  aggrieved  by  :  that  a  veflel, 
for  inflance,  fuch  as  formerly  could  be  bought  for  £600  or  £700,  now 
coft  upwards  of  £40,000.  A  confiderable  portion  of  the  inhabitants  were 
refolute  to  fuftain  the  Committee,  and  would  not  be  convinced  by  any 
thing  that  could  be  faid  by  men  whom  party  rage  confounded  with  con 
cealed  Tories.  In  the  end  of  June,  a  militia  company  of  artillery  de 
clared  its  defire  to  take  up  arms  againfl  their  fellow-citizens  in  fupport  of 
the  decrees  of  the  Town  Meeting  and  the  Committee ;  and  through  the 
fummer,  the  illwill  and  excitement  was  conflantly  on  the  increafe.  Morris, 
McClenachan,  and  other  prominent  characters  were  openly  menaced,  and 
placards  were  polled,  on  the  morning  of  October  4th,  threatening  the 
breaking  open  of  their  ftores.  A  meeting  of  the  Militia  was  called  for 
that  morning,  the  object  of  which  was  undoubtedly  violence ;  and  the 
mob,  including  a  number  of  armed  militia-men,  took  up  their  line  of 
march  through  the  city.  It  is  not  known  now  what  particular  end  they 
had  in  view :  but  probably  their  intent  was  to  act,  as  circumflances  might 
fuggeil,  againfl  all  obnoxious  perfons.  They  had  already  feized  two  fuch 
individuals,  when  they  arrived  at  the  dwelling  of  James  Wilfon,  at  the 
corner  of  Walnut  and  Third  Streets.  Wilfon  was  a  whig,  and  a  Signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  but  he  was  of  the  fame  political 
creed  as  Robert  Morris;  and  was  additionally  odious  to  the  government 
party  by  reafon  of  his  fervices  as  a  lawyer,  to  a  number  of  perfons  not 
long  before  indicted  for  High  Treafon.  He  was  therefore  among  thofe 
threatened  with  popular  vengeance ;  and  fome  thirty  or  forty  of  his  friends 
had  aflembled  at  his  houfe  to  defend  him.  It  would  feem  that  this  party 
comprifed  feveral  who  were  marked  by  the  mob.  Very  happily,  how 
ever, 
20 


154  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Ferfes 

ever,  General  Mifflin  was  one  of  the  number,  who  was  a  warm  political 
enemy  of  General  Reed,  the  head  of  the  executive  of  the  Hate.  Mifflin 
had  very  fagacioufly  advifed  that  information  of  the  approaching  aflault 
mould  be  fent  to  General  Reed,  and  his  counfel  had  been  carried  into 
effeft.  The  houfe  being  prefently  attacked,  and  life  loft  upon  either  fide, 
Mifflin  threw  open  a  window,  and  attempted  to  addrefs  the  mob.  A  man 
immediately  difcharged  his  piece  at  him,  the  ball  ftriking  the  window-fafh 
clofe  by  his  body ;  on  which  the  General  returned  the  fire  with  both  his 
piftols.  A  byflander  relates  that  he  queftioned  the  aflailant  if  he  knew 
whofe  life  he  had  aimed  at :  "he  replied  '  he  fuppofed  fome  damned 
"  Tory,'  and  when  I  informed  him  that  it  was  General  Mifflin,  he  ex- 
"  prefled  his  furprife  and  regret."  The  mob,  however,  was  repulfed,  and 
for  the  moment  retired.  It  prefently  returned  with  cannon ;  and  a  party 
of  men  armed  with  fledge- hammers  and  iron  bars  foon  made  a  breach  in 
the  houfe.  The  arrival  of  General  Reed  with  a  couple  of  Baylor's 
dragoons,  caufed  the  aflailants  to  paufe ;  and  very  foon  after  a  few  of 
the  Firft  City  Troop  charging  into  the  crowd,  it  was  completely  difperfed. 
The  defenders  of  the  houfe  then  fallied  out,  and  aided  in  the  feizure  of 
prifoners. 

It  is  ftated  by  Watfon  that,  in  anticipation  of  the  affray,  the  Troop 
(which  was  then  as  now  compofed  of  the  gentry  of  the  neighborhood) 
had  prepared  on  this  day  to  be  ready  for  fervice  at  a  moment's  warning. 
The  deceitful  calm  that  prevailed  during  the  morning  had  induced  the  mem 
bers  to  retire  for  dinner  to  their  refpeftive  homes,  and  it  was  only  nine  of 
their  number  who  were  got  together  in  time  to  aft.  Charging  fuddenly 
on  the  mob,  ignorance  of  their  real  ftrength  aided  the  panic  of  their  ad- 
verfaries ;  and  the  cry  of  "  the  borfe,  the  borfe  /"  was  a  fignal  for  general 
flight.  The  party  incurred  great  odium  by  this  feat,  and  Major  Lenox 
"  was  particularly  marked  out  for  deftruclion."  His  houfe  at  Germantown 
was  fubfequently  furrounded  in  the  night-time,  and  nothing  but  the 
opportune  arrival  of  the  Troop  difperfed  his  enemies.  In  allufion  to  his 
having  thrown  afide  his  long  coat,  to  avoid  being  dragged  from  his  horre 

on 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  1 55 

on  the  4th  of  Oftober,  and  thus  riding  into  aftion  in  his  fhirt-fleeves,  he 
was  for  years  after  accofted  as  "  brother  butcher "  in  the  market-place. 
Watfon  alfo  gives  the  names  of  fome  of  the  defenders  of  the  houfe  : 
"  Meflrs.  Wilfon,  Morris,  Burd,  George  and  Daniel  Clymer,  John  T. 
"  Mifflin,  Allen  McLane,  Sharpe  Delaney,  George  Campbell,  Paul  Beck, 
"  Thomas  Laurence,  Andrew  Robinfon,  John  Potts,  Samuel  C.  Morris, 
"  Captain  Campbell,  and  Generals  Mifflin,  Nichols,  and  Thompfon. 
"  They  were  provided  with  arms,  but  their  ftock  of  ammunition  was 
"  very  fmall.  While  the  mob  was  marching  down,  General  Nichols  and 
"  Daniel  Clymer  proceeded  haftily  to  the  Arfenal  at  Carpenter's  Hall,  and 
"  filled  their  pockets  with  cartridges :  this  conftituted  their  fole  fupply. 
"  *  *  *  Allen  McLane  and  Colonel  Grayfon  got  into  the  houfe  after  the 
"  fray  began.  The  mob  called  themfelves  Conftitutionalifts.  Benezet's 
"  fire  in  the  entry  from  the  cellar  paflage  was  very  effective."  John 
Schaffer,  and  Colonel  Chambers  of  Lancafter,  were  alfo  in  the  houfe. 
Captain  Campbell  was  killed :  he  had  ferved  in  Hazen's  Continental 
Regiment  and  had  loft  an  arm.  Indeed  moft  of  the  defenders  feem  to 
have  been  connected  with  the  Continental  Army,  while  their  opponents 
were  chiefly  of  the  Militia.  Such  of  the  latter  as  had  been  arrefted  after 
their  repulfe,  were  fent  to  gaol.  On  the  next  day,  the  Militia  Officers 
aflembled,  and  there  were  apprehenfions  that  they  would  enforce  the 
releafe  of  their  comrades.  The  matter  ended  by  the  prifoners  being 
difcharged  on  bail ;  and  the  party  in  the  houfe  were  alfo  compelled  to 
enter  into  recognizances.  No  other  legal  proceedings  were  taken  by  the 
government  of  the  State,  fave  an  aft  of  general  pardon  to  all  concerned 
in  the  affair,  whereby  both  fides  efcaped  without  trial  and  without  pun- 
ifhment. 

This  tragic  conclulion  terminated  the  fcene  which  had  occupied  the 
public  ftage  fince  the  25th  of  May  ;  and  the  oppofite  parties  amongft  the 
whigs  were  thenceforth  more  tranquil  in  their  hoftility.  It  is  noticeable, 
however,  that  the  flame  kindled  during  1779  never  entirely  burned  out  fo 
long  as  fome  of  thofe  who  fhared  in  the  excitement  furvived.  It  was  the 

belief 


156  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

belief  of  more  than  one  of  his  enemies  that  General  Reed  was  implicated 
in  the  defign  of  the  riot :  but  the  charge  is  not  fupported.  Watfon 
remarks  that  General  Arnold  came  to  reprefs  the  mob,  but  he  was  fo 
unpopular  that  they  ftoned  him.  Arnold  was  Reed's  open  enemy.  He 
arrived  with  his  weapons  at  Wilfon's  houfe  juft  after  the  riot  was  quelled, 
and  turning  to  the  byflanders,  obferved :  "  Your  Prefident  has  raifed  a 
"  mob,  and  now  he  cannot  quell  it."  Reed  was  ill  in  bed  when  the  riot 
occurred ;  and  feveral  years  after,  in  reference  to  the  remark  that  he  had 
gone  to  quell  it  at  the  rifk  of  his  life,  I  find  this  ftatement  in  the  manufcript 
of  a  Philadelphian  who  certainly  bore  him  no  good  will :  "  That  is  true : 
"  for,  as  he  had  raifed  the  mob,  it  was  infifted  he  mould  go  out  and 
"  and  quiet  them,  and  his  life  was  threatened  if  he  did  not." 

The  feventeenth  and  eighteenth  Stanzas  of  the  Second  Canto  of  The 
Town  Meeting  are  quoted  in  the  Life  and  Correfpondence  of  Prefident 
Reed,  volume  2nd,  page  1 49  :  which  mows  that  Stanflbury's  fatiric  fhafts 
did  not,  in  every  inftance,  penetrate  very  deeply. 

For  other  particulars  of  this  crifis  in  the  revolutionary  hiftory  of  Penn- 
fylvania,  which  for  a  moment  fo  nearly  threatened  the  inauguration  of 
fcenes  fuch  as  thofe  that  a  few  years  later  tranfpired  in  France,  fee  Reed's 
Reedy  n;  c.  6:  Biog.  Signers,  vi;  150.  The  local  newfpapers  of  the 
day  appear  to  have  refrained  from  the  flighteft  allufion  to  the  emeute. 

NOTE  38,  Page  39. 

Watfon  makes  this  ftanza  refer  to  General  Reed,  but  he  is  in  error,  it 
would  feem.  "  John  Bayard,  for  a  time  Speaker  of  the  Pennfylvania 
"  AfTembly,  and  a  Major  in  the  regiment  of  which  Mr.  Roberdeau  was 
"  Colonel  and  Mr.  Reed  Lieutenant-Colonel "  is  believed  to  be  the  per- 
fon  alluded  to.  As  early  as  1774,  Mr.  Bayard  was  an  aftive  whig  in 
the  politics  of  High  Street  Ward,  Philadelphia.  Early  in  1776  he  and 
Roberdeau  fitted  out  a  privateer  which  foon  captured  a  valuable  prize. 
In  1785  he  was  a  member  of  Congrefs,  and  died  in  1807.  His  nephew, 
James  A.  Bayard,  was  one  of  the  American  negotiators  at  Ghent,  and 

his 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  157 

his  great-nephews  are  alfo  diflinguifhed  in  the  public  fervice.  To  fave 
one's  bacon  is  an  Americanifm,  then  as  now  in  vogue :  "A  fuperior 
"  fquadron  of  our  allies  may  come  upon  the  coaft  in  time  to  fave  our 
"  bacon ;  there  I  confefs  I  reft  my  almoft  only  hope." — Gates  to  Reedy 
loth  May,  1780. 

NOTE  39,  Page  40. 

Blair  M'Clenachan  was  a  leading  merchant  in  Philadelphia,  and  an 
active  whig.  A  New  York  letter  of  April  1 9th,  1780,  fays :  f'  Yefter- 
"  day  arrived  in  our  harbour  the  brigantine  Macaroni,  commanded  by 
"  — —  Patterfon,  belonging  to  Mr.  Blair  M'Lanachan,  of  Philadelphia. 
"  She  mounts  14  guns,  is  a  perfect  beauty,  and  Was  taken  by  his  Majefty's 
"  fhip  Delight,  Captain  Inglis."  In  June  of  the  fame  year,  he  fubfcribed 
X 1 0,000  to  the  eftablifhment  of  the  Bank  of  Pennfylvania,  of  which  he 
was  chofen  Infpedtor  with  Robert  Morris,  and  three  more.  Morris  fub 
fcribed  a  like  fum.  The  object  of  this  inftitution  was  to  facilitate  the 
obtaining  fupplies  for  the  army.  Of  other  characters  referred  to  in  The 
Town  Meeting,  it  may  be  added  here  that  Jofeph  Reed  fubfcribed  ^62000 ; 
Thomas  M'Kean,  John  Mitchell,  and  Benjamin  Rum,  £2000  each ;  and 
Michael  Hillegas,  £4000 :  by  which  it  appears  that  the  friends  and  foes 
of  1779  were  willing  to  unite  for  the  good  of  the  country  in  1780.  In 
1782,  it  has  been  faid  that  he  loft  heavily,  by  engaging  in  a  fort  of  licenfed 
gambling,  cuftomary  in  former  times.  An  account  was  publifhed,  in 
Rivington's  (New  York)  Gazette,  of  Rodney's  victory  over  the  Count 
de  Grafle,  and  of  the  capture  of  the  Ville  de  Paris,  the  French  Admiral's 
flag'fhip.  Rivington's  paper  was  of  fo  little  credit  with  the  whigs,  that 
none  of  them  believed  the  ftory :  and  they  were  confirmed  in  their 
opinions  by  the  arrival  of  an  American  privateer  whofe  people  had  wit- 
neffed  the  commencement  only  of  the  engagement ;  but  whofe  account  of 
what  they  faw  varied  widely  from  Rivington's  ftatement.  In  addition,  the 
Ville  de  Paris  was  fo  large  and  powerful  a  fhip  that  the  officers  of  a 
French  veflel,  captured  by  the  Englifh  fome  time  after,  being  informed 

of 


158  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

of  the  refult  of  the  engagement,  were  exceedingly  downcaft  until  they 
were  told  of  the  flagfhip's  miffortune :  on  which  their  fpirits  immediately 
revived  : — "it  was  all  a  miftake,  a  delufion,"  they  cried  ; — "  the  Ville de 
"  Paris  could  not  poffibly  be  taken."  But  William  Bingham,  Efq.,  who 
had  means  of  obtaining  very  good  intelligence  from  the  Weft  Indies,  had 
probably  received  fecret  but  authentic  tidings :  at  leafl  it  was  fo  reported 
at  Philadelphia  foon  after.  He  therefore  commenced  to  open  policies  on 
the  fafety  of  the  Ville  de  Paris  with  all  who  would  underwrite  her. 
Thefe  were  chiefly  the  warm  and  wealthy  whigs,  and  M'Clenachan  is  faid 
to  have  been  of  the  number.  Bingham  and  his  friends  paid  at  firft  10 
per  cent  premium,  and  from  that  up  to  25  and  30  per  cent.  Some  four 
or  five  hundred  thoufand  dollars  were  thus  underwritten.  The  one  fide 
was  encouraged  in  its  miftake  by  a  letter  received  by  the  French  Minifter, 
written  from  Martinico  after  the  battle,  that  gave  caufe  to  believe  the  Ville 
de  Paris  had  not  been  taken ;  while  the  other  relied  on  its  own  intelligence, 
whatever  that  might  have  been.  After  the  war,  M'Clenachan  was  fued 
in  England  by  one  Brag  for  damages  caufed  by  him  while  acting  under 
public  authority  from  the  Americans.  This  proceeding,  however  unjuft 
in  itfelf,  was  balanced  by  the  New  York  Statute  of  i;th  March,  1783, 
prelcribing  fimilar  meafures  againft  the  other  fide.  He  finally  failed  in 
bufinefs,  and  was  imprifoned  for  debt.  He  was  a  warm  anti-federalift : 
his  propofition  at  a  public  meeting  during  Wafhington's  adminiftration, 
'  to  kick  Jay's  Treaty  to  hell  *  excited  much  merriment  at  the  time.  He 
feems  to  have  been  a  warmhearted,  enthufiaftic  man,  and  a  liberal  friend 
to  the  American  caufe  during  the  war. 

NOTE  40,  Page  40. 

Art.  IV.  "  That  all  power  being  originally  inherent  in,  and  confe- 
quently  derived  from,  the  people ;  therefore  all  officers  of  government, 
whether  legiflative  or  executive,  are  their  truftees  and  fervants,  and  at  all 
times  accountable  to  them.*' — Pennfylvania  Conftitution  0/1776:  Chap.  /. 

NOTE 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  159 


NOTE  41,  Page  40. 

Robert  Morris,  Benedict  Arnold,  and  (according  to  a  manufcript  note) 
William  Wiftar,  are  here  referred  to.  The  firft  was  as  diftinguifhed  for 
his  abilities  as  a  financier,  as  the  fecond  for  his  recklefs  and  perfevering 
courage  as  a  foldier.  This  was  while  he  was  ftationed  at  Philadelphia, 
and  before  his  treafon.  Wiftar  was  perhaps  a  citizen  of  Germantown. 

NOTE  42,  Page  40. 

"Benjamin  Pafchall,  Efquire;  Juftice  of  the  Peace,  and  Shoemaker." 
— Author's  Note. 

NOTE  43,  Page  40. 

The  green  fprig  of  foliage  fometimes  worn  in  the  hat  by  the  Americans, 
in  lieu  of  a  cockade. 

NOTE  44,  Page  41. 

If  the  barber  who  maved  John  Adams,  and  who  figures  fo  amufingly 
in  Adams's  letters  to  his  wife  of  23rd  April,  1776,  and  28th  March,  and 
23rd  April,  1777,  was  a  fair  type  of  their  politics,  the  barbers  of  Phila 
delphia  muft  have  been  (launch  whigs.  Adams  defcribes  him  as  a  dapper 
little  fellow,  with  an  untiring  tongue ;  a  fergeant  in  one  of  the  militia 
battalions ;  and  troubled  with  remorfe  at  miffing  his  chance  of  fortune  in 
the  Rattlefnake  privateer,  which  with  the  Sturdy  Beggar,  had  taken 
eleven  fine  prizes.  "Confound  the  ill  luck,  Sir;  I  was  going  to  fea  my- 
"  felf  on  board  the  Rattlefnake,  and  my  wife  fell  a  yelping.  Thefe  wives 
"  are  queer  things.  I  told  her  I  wondered  me  had  no  more  ambition. 
"  'Now,'  fays  I,  '  when  you  walk  the  ftreets  and  any  body  afks  who  that 
"  is  ?  The  anfwer  is  Burns  the  barber's  wife.  Should  you  not  be  better 
"  pleafed  to  hear  it  faid,  That  is  Captain  Burners  lady,  the  Captain  of 
"  marines  on  board  the  Rattlefnake  P  '  O,'  fays  me,  '  I  would  rather 

"be 


160  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

(<  called  Burne  the  barber's  wife,  than  Captain  Burne's  widow.  I  don't 
"  defire  to  live  better  than  you  maintain  me,  my  dear.'  So  it  is,  Sir,  by 
"  this  fweet,  honey  language,  I  am  choufed  out  of  my  prizes,  and  muft 
"  go  on  with  my  foap  and  razors  and  pincers  and  combs.  I  wifh  me 
"  had  my  ambition." 

NOTE  45,  Page  41. 

A  manufcript  note  fupplies  here  the  name  of  a  perfon  "  whipp'd  at 
"  Annapolis :  now  a  Committee-man." 

NOTE  46,  Page  41. 
<f  Dr.  Fallon,  chairman  of  one  of  the  Committees. "~~Manufcript  Note* 

NOTE  47,  Page  41. 

One  manufcript  of  The  Town  Meeting  has  Porter  Mich,  and  adds  this 
note  to  the  whole  line  :  "  The  one  a  Porter,  the  other  a  Fifherman ;  now 
"  Captains  in  the  Army."  Watfon  alfo  reads  Mich.;  and  the  verfion 
printed  from  the  Duffield  copy  fays  Pewterer  Will.  I  prefer  to  follow 
the  text  in  Rivington.  Mich,  might  poffibly  refer  to  Michael  Hillegas, 
a  whig  of  confiderable  local  influence ;  but  the  defcription  of  his  antece 
dents  will  not  apply.  Will  may  lignify  Colonel  Will,  afterwards  Sheriff 
of  Philadelphia  County. 

NOTE  48,  Page  41. 

"  John  Mitchell,  famous  for  eating  Shad-roe,"  fays  a  note  in  the  Duf 
field  impreflion.  He  is  referred  to  in  the  third  Stanzas  of  this  Canto. 
In  1777,  Colonel  Mitchell  was  Adjutant-General  of  Pennfylvania.  The 
Marquis  de  Chaflellux  in  a  fketch  of  one  of  the  City  Aflembly  Balls  at 
Philadelphia  in  the  winter  of  1780-1  (where  the  airs  danced  to,  by  the 
way,  went  by  the  names  of  Burgoyne's  Defeat,  The  Succefs  of  the  Cam 
paign,  Clinton's  Retreat,  &c.)fays :  "  The  Managers  are  generally  chofen 

"  from 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  1 6 1 

"  from  amongft  the  moft  diftinguifhed  officers  of  the  Army  ;  this  import- 
"  ant  place  is  at  prefent  held  by  Colonel  Wilkinfon,  who  is  alfo  a  clothier- 
(t  general  of  the  Army.  Colonel  Mitchell,  a  little  fat,  fquat  man,  fifty 
"  years  old,  a  great  judge  of  horfes,  and  who  was  lately  Contradlor  for 
"  carriages,  both  for  the  American  and  the  French  Armies,  was  formerly 
"  the  Manager ;  but  when  I  faw  him,  he  had  defcended  from  the  magif- 
"  tracy,  and  danced  like  a  private  citizen.  He  is  faid  to  have  exercifed 
"  his  office  with  great  feverity,  and  it  is  told  of  him,  that  a  young  lady 
({  who  was  figuring  in  a  Country  Dance,  having  forgot  her  turn  by  con- 
"  verfing  with  a  friend,  he  came  up  to  her,  and  called  out  aloud,  give  over, 
"  Mifi,  take  care  what  you  are  about :  Do  you  think  you  came  here  for 
t(  your  pleafure  F 

NOTE  49,  Page  41. 

Thomas  M'Kean;  a  Member  of  the  Congrefs  of  1765,  a  Signer  of  the 
Declaration ;  and  the  only  man  who  was  conflantly  a  Member  of  Con 
grefs  from  1774  to  1783.  He  was  Prefident  of  Congrefs  in  1781; 
Chief-Juflice ;  and  Governor  of  Pennfylvania.  He  may  have  drefled  in 
black,  as  defcribed  by  the  poet,  in  private  life :  but  on  the  bench  he  was 
diftinguifhed  by  his  immenfe  cocked-hat  and  fcarlet  gown.  He  died  in 
1 8 1 7,  in  his  84th  year. 

NOTE  50,  Page  41. 
Continental  Paper  Money. 

NOTE  51,  Page  42. 

Timothy  Matlack:  in  1780  a  Member  of  Congrefs  from  Pennfyl 
vania. 

NOTE 
21 


1 62  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  52,  Page  42. 

Colonel  John  Bull  of  Philadelphia  county ;  afterwards  of  Montgomery 
county.  In  1772,  he  was  a  Juftice  of  the  Peace;  in  1777,  he  was 
Colonel  of  the  Firft  Regiment  of  Pennfylvania  Levies;  and  a  Member  of 
Aflembly  from  Philadelphia  County.  He  commanded  at  Billingfport ; 
and  was  Adjutant  General  of  the  Militia. 

NOTE  53,  Page  42. 

"  Daniel  Roberdeau,  a  lumber  merchant  and  militia  general." — Manu- 
fcript  Note.  A  Member  of  Congrefs  with  Robert  Morris  from  Penn 
fylvania  in  1777  ;  and  that  body  meeting  at  York,  where  accommodations 
were  fcanty,  he  opened  his  houfe  to  Gerry,  and  Samuel  and  John  Adams, 
delegates  from  Maflachufetts.  Though  of  French  extraction,  he  was  a 
great  public  favourite  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  had  long  dwelt.  The 
following  Warrant,  iflucd  (if  genuine)  when  the  Whigs  there  were  pre 
paring  to  fly  before  the  enemy,  is  not  printed  in  the  Archives,. — "  In 
"  Council  of  Safety,  Philadelphia,  Dec.  9,  1776.  You  are  hereby  au- 
"  thorized  and  required  to  imprefs  either  James  Pemberton's,  John  Pern-. 
"  berton's,  Samuel  Emlen^s,  jun.,  or  John  Reynolds1  clofe  carriage  and 
"  horfes,  for  to  remove  General  Roberdeau.  By  Order  of  Council, 
"  David  Rittenboufe,  V.  Prejident.  To  John  Bray,  or  any  other  Con- 
"  ftable."  Thefe  coach  owners  were  probably  not  very  zealous  whigs. 
Roberdeau's  education  muft  have  been  good.  In  1777,  we  find  him 
writing  to  feveral  of  the  State  Authorities,  afking  that  copies  of  Virgil  and 
of  Ovid  mould  be  fent  him ;  which  might  have  occafioned  the  fatiriit, 
who  reflected  that  the  legiflature  of  1778  could  not  all  write  their  own 
names,  to  repeat  how  often  it  happened  that  "  the  moft  capricious  poet, 
"  honeft  Ovid,  was  among  the  Goths."  In  January,  1 795,  Adams  writes : 
"  The  public  prints  announce  the  death  of  my  old,  efteemed  friend, 
"  General  Roberdeau,  whofe  virtues  in  heart-fearching  times  endeared 

"him 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odei,.  16.3 

"  him  to  Philadelphia  and  to  his  country.  His  friendly  attention  to  me 
"  when  Congrefs  held  their  feffions  at  Yorktown  I  can  never  forget,"  &c. 
He  is  buried  at  Alexandria. 

NOTE  54,  Page  42. 

Goflien  is  not  remote  from  Ne\v  York  ;  which  city,  being  the  Britim 
headquarters,  is  here  fignified.  The  expulfion  of  the  wives  and  children 
of  Tories  was  not,  in  fo  many  words,  included  in  the  Refolutions  of  the 
Town  Meeting  of  May  25th:  but  the  prefence  in  the  city  of  the  wives 
of  "  Britifh  Emiflaries  "  was  prefented  as  "  a  grievance  of  a  very  danger- 
"  ous  nature"  by  the  Grand  Jury,  in  July,  1779:  and  in  June,  1780, 
the  Executive  Council  of  the  State  ordered  that  the  wives  and  children 
of  all  perfons  who  had  joined  the  Enemy,  if  found  within  the  State  after 
the  lapfe  of  ten  days  from  the  date  of  that  Decree,  mould  be  proceeded 
againft  as  public  enemies. 

NOTE  55,  Page  43. 

"  The  mob  are  not  eafily  pleaf 'd.  While  General  Roberdeau  was 
fpeaking  from  the  chair,  thofe  behind  him  hifFd  and  filenc'd  him,  be- 
caufe  he  turn'd  his  face  from  them." — Author's  Note. 

NOTE  56,  Page  43. 

Dr.  James  Hutchinfon  :  born  1752;  died  of  yellow  fever,  1793.  He 
was  by  birth  a  Quaker.  See  his  biography  in  Reed's  Reed,  n  ;  127; 
and  a  free  notice  of  his  character  in  LitteWs  Graydon,  91.  John  Adams 
too  muft  have  difliked  him  exceffively,  when  he  repeated  what  fome 
Quakers  in  Philadelphia  had  told  him  of  the  benefits  to  the  United  States 
that  refulted  from  Hutchinfon's  death. 

NOTE  57,  Page  43. 

"'  A  gander  has  more   brains  by  half:"  and  "  A  goofe  has  got  more 

"  fenfe  by  half;"  are  other  readings  of  this  line. 

NOTE 


1 64  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  58,  Page  43. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Rum :  but  the  adjeftive  does  not  agree  with  Mr.  Adams's 
eftimate,  in  1775,  °f  Rum's  character.  "He  is  an  elegant,  ingenious 
"  body,  a  fprightly,  pretty  fellow.  He  is  a  republican.  *  *  *  But  Rum, 
"  I  think,  is  too  much  of  a  talker  to  be  a  deep  thinker ;  elegant,  not 
"  great." — Life  and  Works,  n  ;  427.  From  circumftances,  and  his  own 
talents,  few  men  became  more  odious  to  the  Tories  than  Rum  :  and  he 
cordially  reciprocated  their  fentiments.  Smyth,  who  while  in  gaol  at 
Philadelphia  came  into  contact  with  him,  ftyles  him  "  a  man  eminent  in 
"  phyfic,  but  as  eminent  in  rebellion,  and  ftill  more  fo  in  unfulfilled  pro- 
"  feffions."  But  every  thing  that  envy,  hatred,  malice,  and  all  uncharita- 
blenefs,  ever  did  to  vilify  the  character,  conduft  and  connexions  of  Dr. 
Rum,  pales  befide  the  rancorous  hatred  and  the  powerful  idiom  of  Cob- 
bett,  who  actually  kept  up  a  periodical  called  The  RuJb-Light,  with  no 
other  end  or  ftaple  than  witty  abufe  of  the  doftor  and  his  friends  :  its 
motto  was  from  Job  : — "  Can  the  rum  grow  up  without  mire  ?  can  the 
"  flag  grow  without  water  ?  Whilft  it  is  yet  in  his  greennefs,  and  not  cut 
"  down,  it  wi  thereth  before  any  other  herb.  So  are  the  paths  of  all  that 
"  forget  God ;  and  the  hypocrite's  hope  mall  perifh,"  &c.  See  Porcu 
pine's  Works,  xn :  Index. 

NOTE  59,  Page  43. 

"  Timothy  Matlack,  Efq.,  called  from  his  cock-fighting  propenlities, 
"  Tim  Gaff."—Duffield. 

NOTE  60,  Page  43 , 

George  Bryan,  Efq.;  born  in  Ireland,  1730;  died  in  Pennfylvania, 
27th  January,  1791.  He  was  prominent  as  a  leader  of  the  democratic 
wing  of  the  Whig  Party.  See  a  previous  Note :  alfo  Reed's  Reed,  n :  Index; 
and  LitteWs  Graydon,  287.  "He  was  faid  to  be  a  very  diligent  reader, 

"and 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  165 

"  and  was  certainly  a  never  weary  monotonous  talker,  who,  in  the  dif- 
"  courfes  he  held,  feldom  failed  to  give  evidence  of  the  moft  minute,  re- 
"  condite,  and  out  of  the  way  fafts ;  infomuch,  that  a  bet  was  once  offered, 
"  that  he  could  name  the  town-cryer  of  Bergen-op-Zoom." 

NOTE  61,  Page  44. 

Alluding  to  the  bribe  alleged  to  have  been  tendered  by  Commodore 
Johnftone  to  General  Reed ;  and  refufed  :  a  matter  that  was  the  fource 
of  much  comment  on  both  fides  of  the  Atlantic.  The  three  perfons  in 
volved  ;  Johnftone,  who  offered  the  bribe  ;  Mrs.  Fergufon,  who  bore  the 
meffage  ;  and  Reed,  who  repulfed  it ;  had  each  a  different  verfion  of  the 
affair.  Mrs.  Fergufon  admitting  the  truth  of  Reed's  account,  fo  far  as 
he  and  Johnftone  were  concerned,  at  the  fame  time  denied  that  he  had 
ftated  his  converfation  with  her  in  either  a  fair,  friendly,  or  kind  manner. 
Johnftone  declared  there  was  not  a  word  of  truth  in  the  whole  ftory,  and 
afferted  that  he  had  indifputable  evidence  in  his  poffeffion  to  mow  that 
Reed's  ftory  was  untrue.  This  evidence,  he  continued,  could  not  be 
made  public  at  the  time,  left  it  mould  endanger  the  fafety  of  private  indi 
viduals  ;  but  he  intimated  that  it  mould  one  day  be  given  to  the  world. 
Its  nature  never  has  been  made  known :  and  there  is  little  doubt  but  that 
the  narratives  of  Reed  and  Mrs.  Fergufon  were  fubftantially  correct. 
Johnftone  indeed  admits  that  he  ufed  corrupt  means  in  other  inftances ; 
as  truly  there  was  reafon  to  believe  would  have  been  attempted.  Arthur 
Lee  wrote  from  Paris  to  Congrefs  in  1778,  when  Carlifle,  Eden,  and 
Johnftone  were  about  fetting  forth  as  Royal  Commiflioners  to  America, 
that  "  the  minifters  of  England  give  out  that  they  have  defpatched  half  a 
"  million  of  guineas,  to  pave  the  way  to  a  favourable  reception  of  their  pro- 
"  pofitions,  and  I  know  from  the  beft  authority  here  that  they  have  affured 
"  Count  Maurepas  of  their  being  Jure  of  a  majority  in  Congrefs"  Lee 
was  an  enemy  of  Reed's, — (the  fame  calumniator,  wrote  Franklin  to 
Reed  in  1780,  "  who  formerly,  in  his  private  letters  to  particular  mem- 
"  bers,  accufed  you,  with  Meflrs.  Jay,  Duane,  Langdon,  and  Harrifon, 

"of 


1 66  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

"  of  betraying  the  fecrets  of  Congrefs,  in  a  eorrefpondence  with  the  Minif- 
"  try  :") — and  his  teftimony  therefore  as  to  the  unworthy  artifices  to  be 
employed,  is  of  importance*  A  writer  in  Hall  and  Sellers'  Gazette  (Philadel 
phia,  September  ift,  1779),  remarks  with  great  earneftnefs  on  Johnftone's 
general  avowal  of  the  ufe  of  "  other  means  befides  perfuafion."  He  declares 
it  to  be  the  opinion  "  of  many  hardy  zealots  in  our  caufe,"  reafoning  from 
the  conduct  of  the  Congrefs  of  1778-9,  that  "  it  is  impoflible  that  General 
"  Reed,  whofe  confequence  in  Congrefs  was  not  of  the  firft  order,  could 
"  be  the  only  mernber  of  that  body  who  did  not  attract  the  notice  of  a 
"  bribe.  To  this  great  and  good  man  a  bribe  was  undeniably  offered. 
"  It  was  no  doubt  offered  to  others.  Gen.  Reed  was  the  only  one  who 
"  divulged,  and  therefore  the  only  one  who  refufed  it — for  if  offered  to 
"  others,  and  that  it  muft  have  been  offered  to  others  befides  the  General, 
"  is  next  to  a  certainty,  how  came  it  to  pafs  (fay  thefe  fcrutinizing  zealots) 
"  that  they  did  not,  like  him,  for  reputation  fake  even,  divulge  the  pro- 
"  ferred  corruption  ?"  If  this  infmuation  had  any  real  foundation,  I 
cannot  explain  it :  but  if,  as  is  moft  likely,  it  was  defigned  to  affeft  the 
political  antagonifls  of  the  local  party  to  which  Reed  belonged,  its  expla 
nation  may  confift  in  the  fafts  already  referred  to  in  the  Notes  to  The 
Town  Meeting,  of  the  hatred  in  which  Robert  Morris  was  then  held  by 
many/  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Dana,  and  Mr.  Reed  having  each  been  addrefled, 
on  his  arrival,  by  letters  from  Johnftone.  Governeur  Morris  and  William 
Duer,  Members  of  Congrefs  from  New  York,  were  alfo,  in  1779,  on 
terms  of  political  hoftility  with  General  Reed. 

NOTE  £2,  Page  44. 

"  Vide  the  Letter  from  Cleves  on  the  Lower  Rhine,  in  Dunlap's  Penn- 
"  fylvania  Packet,  May  25th,  1779." — Author's  Note.  "Alluding  to  a 
"  piece  publifhed  in  the  faid  paper  founding  the  good  Qualifications  of 
"  Prefident  Reed :  ftrongly  fufpetted  to  be  compofed  by  himfelf" — Manu- 
fcript  Note.  This  laft  infmuation  is  probably  falfe.  The  article  in  quef- 
tion  was  undoubtedly  printed  in  Europe,  and  thence  tranflated  to  America, 

Mr. 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  167 

Mr.  C.  G.  F.  Dumas,  the  Private  Agent  in  Holland  for  American  Affairs, 
wrote  (4th  November,  1778)  from  the  Hague  to  the  American  Com- 
miffioners  at  Paris  in  this  wife  : — "  The  Courier  of  the  Lower  Rhine 
"  contains  a  fine  eulogy  on  Mr,  Jofeph  Reed,  member  of  Congrefs;  it  is 
"  deferving  of  your  attention.  I  wim  I  could  fend  you  the  paper,  but 
"  I  have  only  one  copy,  which  I  am  about  to  forward  to  Congrefs." 
The  following  is  the  letter  (probably  altered  to  an  Englilh  drefs)  as  it 
appeared  in  Dunlap's  Packet  of  May  25th,  1779. 

Extratf  from  a  Gazette,  printed  at  Cleves,  on  the  Lower  Rhine. 

"  The  noble  and  difmterefted  conduct  of  the  members  of  the  American 
Congrefs,  whom  the  Britifh  Commiflioners  endeavored  to  corrupt,  has 
been  received  here  with  equal  pleafure  and  admiration.  They  have 
generoufly  difdained  the  moft  {educing  offers  that  were  made,  and  have 
therefore  given  the  lie  to  the  affertion  of  an  Agent  from  the  Court  of 
London  to  that  of  Verfailles,  to  a  gentleman  in  high  office. — '  The  end 
of  this  affair  will  prove  that  your  nation  has  been  the  dupes  of  it.  After 
you  have  made  great  efforts,  and  incurred  immenfe  expenfes,  to  fupport 
American  Independence,  we  mail  purchafe  the  Members  of  Congrefs,  and 
the  Congrefs  itfelf :  a  little  Gold  diftributed  appropos  will  reeftablifh  us 
in  all  our  rights,  and  cover  you  with  mame  for  your  proceedings.' — I  am 
not  worth  purchafing,  but  fuch  as  I  am,  the  King  of  Great  Britain  is  not 
rich  enough  to  do  it !  Virtuous  and  fublime  Reed !  Do  not  believe  that 
we  can  pafs  over  in  filence  a  reply  fo  magnanimous,  fo  generous,  worthy 
of  being  equalled  to  the  fined  expreffions  of  patriotifm  and  greatnefs  of 
foul,  of  which  the  antient  republics  offer  an  example.  Should  this  writing 
ever  find  its  way  to  you,  accept  the  homage  which  we  pay  to  thy  virtue, 
in  the  name  of  all  thofe  whofe  hearts  know  the  worth  of  it.  May  your 
example  find  many  imitators  in  your  country,  where  bafenefs  and  venality 
have  not  made  the  fatal  progrefs  they  have  done  in  the  countries  of  Europe! 
Such  inftances  of  magnanimity  remind  us  that,  four  years  ago,  when  the 
firfl  fleps  towards  independence  were  taken,  we  ventured  to  predict 

'That 


1 68  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verjes 

'  That  the  Americans  would  exhibit  examples  of  grandeur  that  would 
aftonifh  our  little  fouls.'  And  we  have  every  day  the  fatifFaftion  to  fee 
that  we  have  not  miftaken  this  extraordinary  people,  made  to  do  honour 
to  human  nature,  and  to  recall  the  idea  of  its  primitive  dignity." 

NOTE  63,  Page  45. 

The  fleet  under  D'Eftaing  was  fent  from  France  with  a  view  to  deftroy 
the  Britilh  fquadron  in  the  Delaware,  and  thus  lend  a  vital  afliftance  to 
the  caufe  of  America.  Had  it,  inftead,  failed  direftly  to  the  Weft  or 
Eaft  Indies  or  to  other  expofed  pofTeflions  of  England,  it  might  doubtlefs 
have  gained  great  advantages  for  France.  The  length  of  time  D'Eftaing 
was  on  the  voyage,  and  the  tidings  that  came  to  the  Englifh,  enabled  them 
to  get  on  their  guard ;  and  the  French  on  arrival  found  them  gone  to 
New  York.  After  landing  M.  Gerard,  the  Minifter,  D'Eftaing  pro 
ceeded  to  Sandy  Hook,  where  for  eleven  days,  in  the  fummer  of  1778, 
he  lay  moored  outfide  the  bar.  The  pilots  could  not  carry  his  largeft 
mips  over ;  and  thus  a  fmaller  fquadron,  at  New  York  under  Howe, 
efcaped  the  dubious  conflict.  The  French  admiral  then  went  to  Rhode 
liland,  to  cooperate  with  the  American  land  forces  under  Sullivan  againft 
the  Britim  :  where,  after  fome  fkirmifhing  he  was  overtaken  by  a  ftorm ; 
and  his  fleet  fuffered  much  lofs  ere  he  could  get  into  Bofton.  His  flag- 
Ihip,  the  Languedoc,  90,  loft  her  rudder  and  mafts.  The  Americans 
were  very  angry  at  his  leaving  Newport  and  refufing  to  fend  any  of  his 
veflels  back  from  Bofton :  and  did  not  omit  to  publifh  their  vexation  in 
protefts  and  general  orders.  While  refitting  at  Bofton  (September,  1 778), 
a  ferious  row  occurred  between  his  people  and  fome  on  the  more. 
Whether  the  laft  were  Americans,  or  Britifh  prifoners,  I  do  not  know  : 
but  one  or  two  of  the  French  officers  were  dangeroufly,  if  not  mortally 
wounded.  A  like  occurrence  was  faid  to  have  occurred  at  Charlefton, 
S.  C.,  about  the  fame  period ;  when  the  French  from  their  mips  fired 
cannon  and  mufketry,  which  the  Americans  retorted  from  the  wharves. 
After  his  fleet  was  refitted,  D'Eftaing  left  Bofton,  for  Martinique  as  was 

believed, 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  169 

believed.  The  attempt  at  Newport,  by  the  way,  was  a  failure.  The 
Americans  were  forced  to  retire  when  the  French  fleet  no  longer  fup- 
ported  them. 

NOTE  64,  Page  45, 

This  is  an  early  allufion  to  Tamenund,  the  Indian  king,  as  the  patron 
faint  of  America. 

NOTE  65,    Page  47. 

Rev.  George  Duffield,  a  chaplain  to  Congrefs,  and  a  Prefbyterian. 
The  allufion,  that  follows,  to  the  attendance  of  Congrefs,  at  a  Catholic 
Mafs,  refers  to  the  willingnefs  of  that  body,  though  Proteftant,  to  pay  a 
proper  refpedl  to  the  faith  of  the  French  King  and  of  his  AmbafTador. 

NOTE  66,  Page  48. 

We  know  that  Odell  was  a  French  fcholar;  for  in  December,  1776, 
he  afted  as  interpreter  in  that  tongue  between  the  Heffian  commander 
and  the  people  of  Burlington,  N.  J. :  but  he  does  great  injuftice  .here  to 
the  prowefs  of  the  incomparable  monarch  of  the  Dipfodes,  as  defcribed 
by  Rabelais :  who,  after  kicking  the  monftrous  Loupgarou  to  death,  feized 
his  corpfe  by  the  two  heels,  and  ufed  it  as  a  club  to  demolifh  the  re 
mainder  of  his  enemies.  *'  Finablement,  voyant  que  tous  eftoyent  mortz, 
"  iecla  le  corps  de  Loupgarou  tant  qu'il  peut  centre  la  ville,  et  tumba 
"  comme  une  grenouille  fus  le  ventre  en  le  place  mage  de  ladidle  ville,  et 
"  en  tumbant  du  coup  tua  ung  chat  brufle,  une  chatte  mouillee,  une  canne 
"  petiere,  et  ung  oyfon  bride." — La  Vie  de  Gargantua  et  de  Pantagruel; 
liure  ii.  chap.  xxix. 

NOTE  67,  Page  48. 

Governor  Samuel  Huntington,  of  Connecticut,  was  Prefident  of  Con 
grefs,  in  1779  and  1780.  M.  de  Chaftellux  was  reminded  by  him  of 
Fabricius,  when  he  paid  the  Prefident  a  vifit  and  found  his  chamber  lit 
by  a  folitary  candle.  NOTE 

22 


170  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  68,  Page  50, 

Charles-Hedor,  comte  D'Eftaing,  had  ferved  under  Lally  in  India,  and 
was  captured  at  Madras  by  the  Englifh  in  1759.  He  broke  his  parole: 
wherefore,  being  again  taken  prifoner,  the  Englifh  would  not  truft  him, 
but  lodged  him  in  durefle.  This  circumftance  gave  birth  to  his  continued 
animofity  to  Britain.  His  French  biographer  accufes  him  of  time-ferving 
in  the  civil  turmoils  of  that  kingdom  :  he  teftified  againft  Marie  Antoinette 
at  her  trial,  and  was  prefently  guillotined  in  his  own  turn.  M.  de  la 
Mothe  Piquet  was  another  French  naval  officer  of  diftinftion,  who  ferved 
on  our  coafls  during  the  war. 

NOTE  69,  Page  50. 

The  Oneidas  were  the  only  tribe  of  the  Six  Nations  in  the  intereft  of 
Congrefs.  In  1779,  Gen.  Sullivan  (whofe  objection  to  being  left  by 
D'Eftaing  at  Newport,  in  1778,  as  already  referred  to,  gives  point  to 
this  allufion)  led  an  expedition  againft  the  hoftile  favages,  and  exchanged 
fpeeches  with  the  Oneidas.  tlnlefs  I  am  miftaken,  Congrefs  beftowed 
military  rank  upon  feveral  of  the  chiefs  of  this  tribe :  an  inexpenfive 
grant  of  honours,  that  probably  fuggefted  its  repetition  to  the  poet. 

NOTE  70,  Page  51. 

The  capture  of  the  Alcmene  frigate,  Oftober  21  ft,  1779,  gave  Rear 
Admiral  Hyde  Parker  the  firft  afTurance  of  D'Eftaing  being  gone  to 
America. 

NOTE  71,  Page  52. 

D'Eftaing's  firft  fummons  to  Savannah  was  that  it  mould  furrender  to 
the  arms  of  the  King  of  France.  It  may  be  noticed  here,  by  the  way, 
that  the  firft  news  of  the  defence  of  Savannah  reached  New  York  on  the 

1 8th 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  171 

1 8th  November,  1779,  five  days  only  before  that  on  which  The  Feu  de 
Joie  appeared  in  print.  This  evinces  a  rapidity  of  compofition  on  the 
part  of  Dr.  Odell.  His  ftory  follows  entirely  the  letters  of  Governor 
Tonyn  and  Colonel  Fufer,  which  contained  the  intelligence  referred  to. 

NOTE  72,  Page  53. 

Captain  Moncrieffe  was  an  old  foldier,  and  a  good  one.  His  exten- 
five  acquaintance  with  this  country,  and  the  facl:  of  his  being  the  uncle  of 
General  Montgomery  and  the  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Jay  and  Governor 
Livingilon,  had  infpired  a  vain  hope  that  he  might  adopt  our  caufe.  His 
fervices  as  Engineer  Officer  at  Savannah  were,  in  great  part,  the  falvation 
of  the  place ;  and  General  Prevoft,  in  his  official  report,  declared  that  any 
mark  of  royal  favour  beftowed  on  Moncrieffe  would  be  regarded  as  a 
perfonal  gratification  to  every  man  in  the  army.  He  planned  the  works 
before  Charleflon  in  the  following  year,  and  received  Clinton's  moft  pro- 
fufe  praifes  in  the  Gazette.  In  a  traft,  publifhed  after  the  war,  and 
written,  it  is  fufpedled  by  Arnold,  an  anecdote  is  given  of  the  battle  of 
Brandywine.  The  Englifh  were  advancing  on  the  redoubt  that  Wafh- 
ington  had  thrown  up  to  guard  Chad's  Ford,  when  Lieutenant  Colonel 
(then  Captain)  Moncrieffe,  who  headed  the  column,  faw  an  American 
howitzer,  loaded  with  grape,  pointed  fo  as  to  rake  the  party,  and  the 
gunner  about  to  apply  the  lighted  match.  "  I'll  put  you  to  death  if  you 
fire !"  Moncrieffe  cried ;  on  which  the  gunner  dropped  the  match  and 
fled.  He  died  at  New  York,  Dec.  loth,  1791;  and  was  buried  "in 
"  Trinity  Church,  in  the  fame  tomb  with  his  friend  Colonel  Maitland, 
"  uncle  to  Lord  Lauderdale,  who,  in  dying,  made  it  the  laft  requeft  that 
"  his  afhes  mould  be  mixed  with  my  father's."  See  Memoirs  of  Mrs. 
Margaret  Coghlan,  Moncrieffe's  daughter,  and  a  very  notorious  woman, 
who  numbered  the  Duke  of  York  among  her  keepers. 

NOTE 


172  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  73,  Page  53. 

Colonel  Maitland,  an  excellent  officer,  fucceeded  in  getting  into  the 
town  after  the  fiege  began.  The  relief  he  brought  was  very  important, 
as  the  place,  not  expecting  fuch  an  attack,  was  not  ftrongly  garrifoned. 
I  have  not  feen  this  epitaph  on  him  in  print. 

On  the  honourable  Colonel  Maitland,  whofe  death  was  occafioned  by  the 
fatigues  he  fuffered  in  his  admired  march  from  Beaufort  to  Savannah, 
and  whofe  memory  in  the  Charles  Town  Gazette  receives  its  higheft 
panegyrick  from  the  mouth  of  an  enemy.  By  Mrs.  De  Lancey. 

O'er  MaitlancPs  corpfe  as  Victory  reclin'd 
Reflecting  on  the  fate  of  human  kind  : 
Is  this,  me  cried,  the  end  of  all  thy  toils ! 
What  now  avail  thy  laurels  or  thy  fpoils! 

Worn  with  fatigue  thou  cam'fl  thy  friends  to  fave— • 
Saw  them  reliev'd,  and  funk  into  the  grave  ! 
Now  grief  and  joy  together  blend  their  cries; 
Savannah's  fav'd,  yet  generous  Maitland  dies. 
In  vain  around  thy  conq'ring  foldiers  weep  : 
Thy  eyes  are  clof  'd  in  death's  eternal  fleep. 
Yet  while  a  grateful  King  or  Country  fighs, 
O'er  thy  lov'd  afhes  marbles  proud  mail  rife. 
Nay,  even  the  Foe,  feliev'd  awhile  from  fear, 
Confefs  thy  Virtues,  and  beftow  a  tear : 
Own,  that  as  Valour  ftrung  thy  nervous  arm, 
So  gentle  Pity  did  thy  bofom  warm. 

O  double  praife — to  make  the  haughty  bend ; 
Yet  make  the  vanquifli'd  enemy  a  friend  ! 
Thus  Maitland  falls,  though  his  undying  name 
Shall  live  forever  on  the  lips  of  Fame. 

NOTE 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  173 

NOTE  74,  Page  56. 

Pulafki  had  been  one  of  the  Confederates  of  Bar  to  ouft  Staniflaus 
Poniatowfki  from  the  Polifh  throne.  Having  fkilfully  feized  and  carried 
off  the  king,  he  and  his  party  do  not  feem  to  have  known  what  to  do 
with  him  :  they  had  not  the  means  of  long  retaining  him  prifoner,  and 
they  were  not  willing  to  flay  him ;  fo  Staniflaus  efcaped,  and  Pulafki  fled 
the  kingdom. 

It  is  related,  by  one  who  was  prefent,  that  in  the  moment  of  attack  the 
advance  on  Savannah  was  delayed  by  the  punctilio  of  an  officer,  whofe 
company  had  failed  to  obtain  the  pofidon  of  honour  upon  the  right,  to 
which  military  etiquette  entitled  it.  Under  a  fweeping  fire  of  grapefliot 
from  the  town,  the  whole  divifion  was  halted,  while  his  company,  with 
drum  and  fife,  marched  before  the  line  to  its  place. 

NOTE  75,  Page  5 6. 

This  may  refer  to  a  fmall  fortie  on  the  night  of  Sept.  27th,  which  fet 
the  French  and  Americans  firing  on  each  other  in  the  dark.  Their  lofs 
was  faid  to  be  about  fifty.  When  the  fiege  was  about  being  given  over, 
mutual  civilities  paffed  between  the  Englifh  and  French  officers,  and  one 
of  the  latter  (Count  O'Duin,  an  officer  of  rank)  is  reported  by  General 
Prevoft  as  fpeaking  very  acrimonioufly  of  "  the  fcoundrel  Lincoln  "  and 
the  Americans.  General  Benjamin  Lincoln  led  our  forces.  Another 
Englifh  Officer  mentioned  a  report  that  the  Americans  were  offended  at 
the  fummons  to  furrender  to  the  French  King  only ;  and  that  the  allies 
when  they  departed  "  were  almoft  ready  to  cut  one  another's  throats." 

NOTE  76,  Page  66. 

Mariot  Arbuthnot,  nephew  of  Dr.  John  Arbuthnot  the  famous  friend 
of  Swift  and  Pope,  was  born  in  1711,  and  died  an  Admiral  of  the  Blue 
in  1794.  In  1780,  he  commanded  the  naval  forces  at  New  York. 

When 


174  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

When  the  French  fleet  came  to  Rhode-Ifland  in  July,  1780,  Clinton 
wiihed  to  make  a  conjoined  attack  on  the  enemy  there,  but  the  Admiral, 
who  was  not  only  a  bad  tadlician  but  a  flow  old  man,  did  not  aft  with 
fufficient  hafte,  and  all  fell  through.  In  recruiting  at  New  York,  he 
dropped  a  coarfe  remark  which  is  not  repeated  in  the  text  as  here  re 
printed.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  a  Manufcript  Note  fays :  "  It  had  been 
"  propofed  that  6000  men  under  Sir  H.  C<  mould  have  been  landed  in 
"  Efcourt  Paflage  to  meet  the  French  on  their  embarkation  :  but  as  the 
"  Admiral  was  not  informed  of  their  arrival  till  ten  days  after,  and  that 
"  they  had  been  reinforced  and  had  had  time  to  fortify,  it  would  not 
"  have  been  quite  fo  prudent  for  the  Army  alone  to  attempt ;  and  if  the 
"  Admiral  had  feen  the  propriety  of  taking  an  adlive  part  with  the 
"  Navy,  he  would  have  accepted  the  propofal  of  Sir  H.  C." 

NOTE  77,  Page  72. 

The  King's  floop  Savage,  of  1 6  guns,  was  loft  near  the  river  St.  Law 
rence  before  1780:  the  Triton  was  a  look-out  veflel  of  Arbuthnot's  fleet 
at  New  York  in  1780. 

NOTE  78,  Page  72. 

A  place  hard  by  New  York  where,  it  would  appear,  captive  American 
Officers  were  often  detained  and  boarded  at  two  dollars  a  week.  See 
LitteWs  Gray  don:  245-255. 

NOTE  79,  Page  72. 

Here  is  a  confirmation  of  the  aflertion  of  the  anonymous  tranflator  of 
Chaftellux.  Immenfe  quantities  of  Englifti,  Spanifh,  and  Portuguefe  gold 
coin  were  brought  into  America,  during  the  war,  at  the  coft  of  Great 
Britain :  but  "  had  all  of  them  holes  punched  in  them,  or  were  otherwife 
"  dimintfhed  at  New  York,  before  they  were  fuffered  to  pafs  the  lines ; 
"  from  whence  they  obtained  the  name  of  Robertfons  in  the  rebel  country; 

"but 


of  Stan/bury  and  Odell.  175 

"  but  the  profits,  if  any,  of  that  commander,  on  this  new  edition  of  the 
"  coin,  remain  a  fecret."  Major-General  James  Robertfon  was  the  laft 
Royal  Governor  of  New  York :  his  jurifdiclion  never  extended  beyond 
the  lines  of  the  city. 

NOTE  80,  Page  74, 

The  manufcript  of  this  Ode  bears  alfo  the  following  obfcure  lines : 
"  Dear  Y — .  Your  fcrap  of  Intelligence  made  a  Mother's  Eye  gliften 
"  with  delight  and  gratitude.  Are  not  thefe  feelings  on  thefe  occafions 
"  finer  than  their  lordly  Matters.  Your  withering  twig  explains  it  in  a 
"  moment.  Well !  I  have  executed  all  your  commands,  verbal  and 
"  written,  and  now,  feeling  myfelf  fomewhat  boulder  after  this  full  de- 
"  claration,  let  me  requeft  the  favor  of  you  to  put  the  above  in  a  better 
"  drefs  than  its  own  dad  could  invent  or  make  for  it :  which  will  be  doing 
"  as  you  would  be  done  by.  Benny  will  convince  you  I  have  not 
"  omitted  fending  a  line,  and  that  will  evince  this  propofition  that  I  am 
"  wholly  yours.  R.  R.  Tuefday  morng." 

NOTE  8 1,  Page  79. 

Frefh  meats  were  fo  coftly  in  New  York  during  the  war  that  the  day 
commemorated  by  the  poet  was  worthy  of  all  his  praife.  Taking  the 
prices  for  any  year,  we  fee  how  fcarce  frefh  provifions  mutt  have  been. 
In  Feb.  1777,  for  inftance,  ftrong  Irifh  butter  was  at  33.  per  Ib.  In 
April,  beef  was  at  I4d.  per  Ib. ;  butter  at  2s.  •  mutton  at  i8d. ;  milk  7d. 
per  quart ;  cabbages  2od.  each,  &c.  In  June,  an  egg  was  worth  a  mil 
ling;  in  Auguft,  beef  was  at  2  id.  per  Ib.,  and  other  things  in  proportion. 
The  Song  alfo  refers  to  the  cherifhed  idea  with  Walhington  and  La  Fay- 
ette  of  carrying  New  York.  La  Fayette  was  now  in  Virginia,  adling 
againft  Arnold. 

NOTE 


176  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

NOTE  82,  Page  81. 

The  manufcript  is  addrefled  :  "  To  Capt.  Duncan. 
"  tion  and  alteration  of  the  enclofed  hafty  dafh  is  requefted  by  the  author." 
Captain  Duncan  was  of  the  Eagle,  Lord  Howe's  flagfhip,  in  1778.  The 
Royal  Oak,  74,  failed  from  England  with  "the  hardy  Byron"  in  1778, 
and  was  for  feveral  years  in  the  American  feas.  M.  Deftouches  was  at 
Rhode-Ifland,  in  Auguit,  1780,  in  command  of  Le  Neptune,  74. 

NOTE  83,  Page  83. 

Now  Burke,  with  his  Profpett,  no  longer  can  charm ; 

Nor  Giants  or  Goblins  the  Nation  alarm. — Author's  Variation. 

NOTE  84,  Page  88. 

To  caft  a  flur  on  the  character  of  Wafhington  would,  today,  be  the 
adl,  if  of  an  American,  of  a  very  filly  or  a  very  difhoneft  man.  The 
latitude  of  party  heats  and  perfonal  rivalries  permitted  a  lefs  reftrained 
conduct  during  his  life-time.  The  Tories  had  furely  fome  excufe  for 
fpeaking  bitterly  of  the  only  man  by  whom  the  American  Armies  could 
have  been  led  to  Victory  and  Independence ;  for  the  vanquifhed  party 
has  in  all  times  pofTefTed  at  leaft  the  privilege  of  murmuring  againft  its 
conqueror.  But  it  muft  not  be  forgotten  that  long  before  and  long  after 
the  War,  as  well  as  through  its  continuance,  Wafhington  was  the  object 
of  the  envy  and  the  calumny  of  others  than  the  adherents  of  the 
Englifh  crown.  The  earlicft  public  outrage  offered  to  his  character 
appears  in  the  official  Memoir  e,  fent  in  1756  by  Louis  XV  to  the  other 
fovereigns  of  Europe,  in  which,  referring  to  Wafhington's  Ohio  expedi 
tion  and  the  death  of  Jumonville,  in  1754,  he  fays :  "  II  paroit  que  1'im- 
"  pofture  ne  coute  rien  a  M.  Wafmghton ;  ici  il  fen  fait  honneur."  It 
is  amufmg  to  find  that  Beaumarchais  in  1779,  replying  to  Gibbon's  ftate- 
ments  and  juftifying  the  aid  given  by  France  to  America,  heads  his  lift 

of 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  177 

of  outrages  exercifed  by  England  with  this  charge  of  aflaffination  !  He 
did  not  know  that  the  falfehood  hit  the  chief  of  the  Americans,  inftead  of 
the  Englifh  court.  Perhaps  the  original  aflertion  by  a  foe  of  this  bald 
flander  "  may  be  forgiven,  though  it  cannot  be  applauded  :"  but  its  repe 
tition  was  unfortunate  on  the  lips  of  a  friend.  But  the  friends  of  America 
in  the  war  were  not  all  friends  of  Wafhington.  His  appearance  in 
uniform  in  the  Congrefs  of  1775,  anc^  tne  military  experience  he  had 
acquired,  undoubtedly  familiarized  the  minds  of  fome  members  with  the 
idea  of  his  nomination  to  be  Commander  of  the  Army  :  but  the  confent 
of  many  of  the  delegates  to  this  appointment  was  only  extorted  by  the 
neceffities  of  the  cafe,  and  was  a  fource  "of  real  regret  in  nearly  one  half" 
of  the  gentlemen  who  made  it.  A  number  of  the  members  were  for  Mr. 
Hancock ;  more  were  for  Charles  Lee ;  many  for  Wamington ;  but  the 
greateft  number  were  in  favour  of  Artemas  Ward.  There  is  room  how 
ever  for  the  inference  that  there  was  no  defire  on  the  part  of  a  majority 
to  maintain  at  the  continental  expenfe  a  New  England  army,  with  New 
England  officers,  to  fight  New  England  battles  on  New  England  foil. 
There  was  a  Southern  party  againft  a  Northern ;  "  and  fo  many  of  our 
"  ftauncheft  men,"  fays  Adams,  "  were  in  the  plan,  that  we  could  carry 
"  nothing  without  conceding  to  it.  Another  embaraflment,  which  was 
"  never  publicly  known,  and  which  was  carefully  concealed  by  thofe  who 
"  knew  it,  the  Maflachufetts  and  other  New  England  delegates  were 
"  divided.  Mr.  Hancock  and  Mr.  Cuihing  hung  back ;  Mr.  Paine  did 
(f  not  come  forward,  and  even  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  was  irrefolute.  Mr. 
"  Hancock  himfelf  had  an  ambition  to  be  appointed  Commander-in- 
"  Chief  *  *  *  When  I  came  to  defcribe  Wamington  for  the  commander, 
"  I  never  marked  a  more  ftriking  and  fudden  change  of  countenance. 
"  Mortification  and  refentment  were  exprefled  as  forcibly  as  his  (Han- 
"  cock's)  face  could  exhibit  them."  Mr.  C.  F.  Adams  adds  that  "  neither 
"  Hancock  nor  Ward  was  ever  afterwards  cordial  towards  "  Wamington. 
Nor  were  the  Virginia  delegates  unanimous  in  his  favour  :  "  particularly 
*'  Mr.  Pendleton  was  very  clear  and  full  againfl  it."  When  the  queftion 

was 


178  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

was  debated,  there  was  a  warm  oppofition  to  Wafhington :  on  public, 
however,  and  not  on  any  perfonal  grounds.  Pendleton,  Sherman,  Cufh- 
ing,  and  feveral  others  joined  in  it ;  fearing  "  difcontents  in  the  army 
"  and  in  New  England."  This  army,  it  muft  be  recollected,  confifted 
at  that  time  almoft  entirely  of  the  men  raifed  by  and  in  New  England, 
and  gathered  before  Bofton.  There  was  in  Congrefs  a  ftrong  jealoufy  of 
Maflachufetts,  and  a  fufpicion  of  her  real  objefts ;  and  her  reprefenta- 
tives  were  obliged  to  be  very  guarded  in  the  expreffion  of  their  fentiments, 
left  other  colonies  mould  recoil  from  them.  Wafhington's  appointment, 
therefore,  was  juftly  regarded  by  Adams  as  valuable,  in  fecuring  the  union 
of  the  colonies  in  defence  of  New  England ;  and  the  troops  forthwith 
raifed  in  the  more  fouthern  provinces  and  fent  thither  by  Congrefs  juftified 
his  predictions.  And  it  muft  likewife  be  remarked  that  at  the  time  of  the 
feleftion  of  Wafhington,  Hancock  writes  favourably  of  the  appointment. 
The  pay  of  the  General  Officers  was  alfo  a  hard  morfel  for  fome  of  the 
delegates  to  fwallow.  Samuel  and  John  Adams  and  Paine  were  earneft 
to  reduce  it,  but  in  vain.  "  Thofe  ideas  of  equality,  which  are  fo  agree- 
"  able  to  us  natives  of  New-England,  are  very  difagreeable  to  many  gen- 
"  tlemen  in  the  other  Colonies.  They  had  a  great  opinion  of  the  high 
"  importance  of  a  Continental  General,  and  were  determined  to  place 
"  him  in  an  elevated  point  of  light.  They  think  the  Maffacbufetts 
"  eftablilhment  too  high  for  the  privates,  and  too  low  for  the  officers,  and 
"  they  would  have  their  own  way."  Probably  the  original  fuggeftion  of 
Wafhington  for  Commander-in-chief  came  from  Johnfon  of  Maryland, 
or  fome  other  Southern  delegate  ;  but  to  John  Adams  was  due  his  public 
nomination.  "  Virginia  is  indebted  to  Maflachufetts  for  Wafhington," 
he  boafted,  "  not  Maflachufetts  to  Virginia.  Maflachufetts  made  him  a 
"  general  againft  the  inclination  of  Virginia."  But  this  can  only  refer  to 
the  voice  of  the  delegates  from  thefe  States,  who  were  generally  intimately 
allied  in  Congrefs  on  any  party  queftion.  Long  after  the  Peace,  John 
Jay  faid  that  in  the  Congrefs  of  the  Revolution  there  was  always,  from 
firft  to  laft,  a  moft  bitter  party  againft  Wafhington.  What  were  the 

various 


of  Stan/bury  and  Ode II.  179 

various  motives  of  its  members,  it  is  impoffible  to  fay,  imce  their  names 
even  cannot,  with  fulnefs  and  accuracy,  be  now  afcertained.  It  is  but 
fair,  however,  to  give  the  benefit  of  a  doubt,  and  to  fuppofe  that  it  was 
an  apprehenfion  of  the  efFe6l  which  fo  much  power  and  popularity  might 
have  on  his  ambition.  The  future  was  as  yet  unfeen ;  and  many  men 
knew  not  what  would  be  the  confequences  of  the  attainment  of  Independ 
ence.  "  The  fubjugation  of  my  country,"  faid  Edward  Biddle,  whofe 
declining  health  had  compelled  him  to  forego  the  influence  his  talents 
would  have  given  him  as  delegate  in  Congrefs  from  Pennfylvania — "  I 
"  deprecate  as  a  moft  grievous  calamity ;  and  yet  ficken  at  the  idea  of 
"  thirteen,  unconnected,  petty  democracies :  if  we  are  to  be  independ- 
"  ent,  let  us,  in  the  name  of  God,  at  once  have  an  empire,  and  place 
"  Wajbington  at  the  head  of  it."  But  this  idea  was  not  pleating  to  our 
people,  whofe  experience  of  the  benefits  of  monarchy  was  not  great,  and 
very  few  of  whom  had  ever  been  diftinguifhed  by  any  royal  favour  ;  or, 
as  an  Englifh  verfifier  fang : 

Poor  loft  America,  high  honours  miffing, 

Knows  nought  of  fmile  and  nod,  and  fweet  hand-kiffing  : 

Knows  nought  of  golden  promifes  of  kings ; 

Knows  nought  of  coronets,  and  ftars,  and  firings : 

In  folitude  the  lovely  rebel  lighs  ! 
But  vainly  drops  the  penitential  tear — 

Deaf  as  the  adder  to  the  woman's  cries, 
We  fuffer  not  her  wail  to  wound  our  ear : 
For  food,  we  bid  her  hopelefs  children  prowl, 
And  with  the  favage  of  the  defert  howl. 

But  fuch  "  fears  of  the  brave  and  follies  of  the  wife  "  are  incident  to 
human  nature ;  and  the  jealoufy  of  Wafhington  may  have  in  fome  cafes 
b££n  connected  with  honeft  though  blind  judgments.  It  was  a  public 
bleffing,  thought  Adams,  that  the  glorious  defence  of  the  Delaware  forts, 
in  1777,  was  "  not  immediately  due  to  the  Commander-in-chief  nor  to 

"  fouthern 


180  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

"  fouthern  troops.  If  it  had  been,  idolatry  and  adulation  would  have 
"  been  unbounded  ;  fo  exceffive  as  to  endanger  our  liberties,  for  what  I 
"  know.  Now,  we  can  allow  a  certain  citizen  to  be  wife,  virtuous  and 
ff  good  without  thinking  him  a  deity  or  a  Saviour."  It  was  in  the  fame 
year  that  the  writer  took  fire  in  Congrefs  at  the  fentiments  entertained  for 
the  General  by  certain  members  :  "  I  am  diftrefled  to  find  fome  of  our 
"  members  difpofed  to  idolize  an  image  which  their  own  hands  have 
"  molten,  I  fpeak  of  the  fuperftitious  veneration  which  is  paid  to  General 
"  Wamington.  I  honour  him  for  his  good  qualities,  but  in  this  houfe, 
"  I  feel  myfelf  his  fuperior.  In  private  life,  I  mall  always  acknowledge 
"  him  to  be  mine."  The  Cabal  againft  Wamington  was  never  more 
violent  than  at  this  time,  and  probably  debate  ran  high  and  warm  lan 
guage  was  ufed  on  either  fide  :  and  his  enemies,  if  we  may  rely  on  the 
following  anecdote,  were  more  powerful  in  the  Council-chamber  than  in 
the  Camp.  In  a  Life  of  Lord  Stirling  the  father-in-law  of  William  Duer, 
written  by  Mr.  Duer's  fon  (and  the  relationfhip  is  of  fome  importance  to 
the  authenticity  of  the  anecdote),  occurs  this  fingular  paflage :  "  It  is 
"  related  by  Mr.  Dunlap  in  his  Hiftory  of  New  York,  upon  the  authority 
"  it  is  prefumed  of  the  late  General  Morgan  Lewis,  that  a  day  had  been 
"  appointed  by  the  Cabal  in  Congrefs  for  one  of  them  to  move  for  a 
"  Committee  to  proceed  to  the  camp  at  Valley-Forge,  to  arreft  General 
"  Wamington ;  and  that  the  motion  would  have  fucceeded  had  they  not 
"  unexpectedly  loft  the  majority  which  they  poflefled  when  the  meafure 
"  was  determined  on.  At  that  time,  there  were  but  two  delegates  in 
"  attendance  from  New  York ;  Francis  Lewis,  the  father  of  the  late 
"  General  Morgan  Lewis,  and  William  Duer,  the  fon-in-law  of  Lord 
"  Stirling — barely  fufHcient  to  entitle  the  State  to  a  vote,  if  both  were 
"  prefent.  But  Mr.  Duer  was  confined  to  his  bed  by  a  fevere  and  dan- 
"  gerous  illnefs.  His  colleague,  Mr.  Lewis,  had  fent  an  exprefs  for  Mr. 
"  Gouverneur  Morris,  one  of  the  abfent  members,  who  however  had  not 
"  arrived  on  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  the  motion  was  to  have 
"  been  made.  Finding  this  to  be  the  cafe,  Mr.  D.  inquired  of  his  phy- 

"  fician, 


of  Stanjbury  and  Odell.  1 8 1 

"  fician,  Dr.  John  Jones,  whether  it  was  poffible  for  him  to  be  carried 
"  to  the  Court-Houfe  where  Congrefs  fat.  The  Doftor  told  him  it  was 
"  poffible,  but  it  would  be  at  the  rifk  of  his  life.  '  Do  you  mean/  faid 
"  Mr.  D.,  '  that  I  mould  expire  before  reaching  the  place  ?'  *  No,'  re- 
"  plied  the  Dodtor,  '  but  I  would  hot  anfwer  for  your  leaving  it  alive.' 
"  'Very  well,  fir,'  laid  Mr.  D.,  'you  have  done  your  duty,  and  I  will 
"  do  mine.  Prepare  a  litter  for  me ;  if  you  will  not,  fomebody  elfe  will — 
"  but  I  prefer  your  aid.'  The  litter  was  prepared,  and  the  fick  man 
"  placed  in  it,  when  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Morris  rendered  the  further  ufe 
"  of  it  unneceflary,  and  baffled  the  intrigue  that  had  induced  its  prepara- 
"  tion."  The  date  of  this  anecdote  was  fuch  as  to  render  it  extremely 
improbable  that  the  American  Army,  if  it  fubmitted  to  Wafhington's 
depofal,  would  have  ftruck  another  blow  under  another  leader  for  Con 
grefs.  "  I  remember  well,"  fays  a  public  writer  in  1780,  "  that  fuch 
"  was  the  fituation  of  the  Army,  while  they  lay  at  the  Valley  Forge  in 
"  the  winter  of  the  year  1778,  deflitute  of  cloathing,  many  times  in  want 
"  of  provilions,  and  greatly  difcouraged,  that  a  member  of  Congrefs,  who 
"  had  been  on  a  Committee  to  the  Camp  to  new  model  the  troops  with 
"  the  advice  of  General  Waihington,  declared  to  me,  that  '  fuch  had  been 
"  the  flate  of  things,  that  nothing  but  the  great  virtues  of  that  man  had 
"  kept  the  army  together.'  "  Much  concerning  this  Cabal,  and  its 
workings  in  the  Congrefs  of  1778,  exifts  in  Gordon:  whence  it  would 
feem  that  delegates  from  Maffachufetts  and  Virginia  were'  deep  in  the 
affair.  Samuel  Adams,  he  fays,  was  concerned  in  it,  and  adds  :  "  The 
"  army  was  fo  confident  of  it,  and  fo  enraged,  that  perfons  were  ftationed 
"  to  watch  him,  as  he  approached  the  camp,  on  his  return  home.  But 
'  "  he  is  commonly  poflefled  of  good  intelligence,  and  was  careful  to  keep 
"  at  a  fafe  diftance.  Had  he  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  officers,  when 
"  in  that  paroxifm  of  refentment,  they  would  probably  have  handled  him 
"  fo  as  to  have  endangered  his  life,  and  tarnifhed  their  own  honour." 
There  is  a  curious  article  in  the  Pennfylvania  Evening  Poft,  July  24th, 
1779,  which  may  refer  to  this  anti-Waihington  Party  in  Congrefs:  "  a 

"  junto 


1 8  2  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

"  junto  who  have  endeavored  to  fubjeft  all  things  to  themfelves,  all  power* 
"  civil  military  and  marine :  Who  have  endeavored  to  remove  every 
"  perfon  that  would  not  mingle  in  their  factious  views ;  and  to  place  none 
"  in  office  but  their  friends,  relatives  and  dependents ;  againft  whofe 
"  malevolence  the  unfullied  fame  of  the  great  American  patriot  was  but 
"  a  flender  barrier;  whofe  victim  was  a  W*********  —  and  whofe  idol 
"  was  a  L**."  The  fame  journal  (July  9th,  1779)  mentions  the  exift- 
ence  in  Congrefs  of  a  fort  of  Club  of  certain  New  England,  New  Jerfey, 
and  Pennfylvania  delegates,  with  two  or  three  from  the  Southward ;  the 
foundation  of  which  had  been  laid  in  the  firft  Congrefs,  when  there  was 
caufe  to  fear  that  New  York  and  one  or  two  other  Middle  Colonies  were 
averfe  to  extreme  meafures.  Among  the  Wafhington  party  in  Congrefs, 
I  mould  put  fuch  names  as  thofe  of  Robert,  Lewis,  and  Gouverneur 
Morris;  Jay;  Paca;  Burke;  Drayton;  Duane;  Duer;  Francis  Lewis. 
The  queftion  is  not  fo  clear  in  regard  to  Samuel  Adams ;  Mifflin ;  Wither- 
fpoon ;  Rufh ;  Jefferfon ;  the  Lees,  &c. ;  though  any  conclufion  to  be 
arrived  at  muft  in  fome  meafure  be  conjectural.  In  1789,  Samuel  Adams 
in  a  manner  denied  to  a  friend  the  truth  of  Dr.  Gordon's  ftatement  of  his 
having  been  concerned  in  a  plot  to  remove  Wafhington.  And  in  1796, 
when  John  Adams  was  a  fucceflrul  candidate  for  the  Prelidency  of  the 
United  States,  he  makes  an  obfervation  that  would  imply  a  well-eftablifhed 
community  of  action  between  Samuel  Adams  and  Thomas  McKean : 
"  The  feelings  of  friendfhip  excite  a  curiofity  to  know  how  McKean  will 
"  vote.  By  that  I  mall  guefs  how  Governor  Adams  would  have  voted." 
On  April  4th,  1778,  Patrick  Henry  wrote  to  Richard  Henry  Lee  that  he 
(Lee)  was  traduced  in  Virginia  by  perfons  who  alleged  that  he  was  en 
gaged  in  a  fcheme  to  difcard  Wafhington:  and  in  1780,  Dr.  William 
Shippen,  jun.  wrote  thus  to* him  of  General  Greene:  <f  He  is  a  little 
"  fufpicious  that  you  are  not  perfectly  fatiffied  with  his  conduit,  becaufe 
"  you  were  faid  to  be  inimical  to  our  commander,  and  of  confequence 
"  to  him,  who  was  fuppofed  to  be  one  of  his  flatterers — this  falfe 
"  idea  I  have  reprobated  to  General  Greene,  and  allured  him  he  would 

"find 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  183 

"  find  you  his  friend  and  ufeful  confidant."  And  it  is  faid  alfo  that  the 
occafion  of  Lee's  lofmg  his  popularity  at  home,  and  his  feat  in  Congrefs 
in  1777,  was  chiefly  becaufe  he  had  compelled  his  tenants  to  pay  their 
rents.  His  biographer  and  namefake,  in  feveral  places,  flouts  the  charge 
made  by  Judge  Johnfon,  in  the  Life  of  Greene,  that  Richard  Henry  Lee 
was  Wafhington's  enemy.  But  if  Samuel  Adams  was,  fo  was,  probably, 
Lee.  It  is  at  all  events  a  gratifying  thing  to  remark  that  no  one,  in  later 
days,  had  the  moral  courage  to  confefs  that  he  was  concerned  in  the  bufi- 
nefs ;  indeed  its  very  name  of  Conwa^s  Cabal  mows  that  its  members 
were  afraid  or  afhamed  to  avow  their  complicity ;  for  Conway  was  but  a 
tool  of  the  hour,  whom  it  was  eafy  enough  for  a  fellow-foldier  to  filence, 
and  whofe  name  was  affixed  to  a  fcheme  (that  he  doubtlefs  approved  of, 
but  which  was  concocted  by  longer  heads  than  his  own)  merely  to  avert 
the  attention  of  the  world  from  its  real  authors.  In  the  Army,  indeed, 
the  love  and  veneration  for  Washington  was  boundlefs,  and  almoft  univerfal ; 
and  here  truly  lay  the  ftumbling-block  of  his  enemies.  It  was  only  in  the 
immediate  circle  of  fome  of  the  foreign-born  officers,  as  Conway,  Lee,  and 
Gates,  that  an  oppofite  opinion  was  heard.  Lee's  fentiments  in  regard  to 
"  Wafhington  and  his  puppies "  are  fufficiently  well  known.  "  Entre 
"  nous"  he  fays  to  Gates  in  December,  1776,  "a  certain  great  man  is 
"  damnably  deficient."  "  As  to  his  talents  for  the  command  of  an  army," 
faid  Gates  to  Graydon,  '  with'  a  French  Ihrug,'  "  they  were  miferable 
"  indeed."  The  teftimony  of  the  civilian,  who  was  forced  to  remove  from 
a  comfortable  houfe  in  one  place  to  a  comfortable  houfe  in  another,  be 
caufe  Wafhington,  with  vaftly  inferior  forces  could  not  drive  Howe  out 
of  Philadelphia,  would  be  amufing  but  for  the  circumftance  that,  himfelf 
in  a  pofition  to  obtain  a  comfortable  dinner — "  a  good  roaft  turkey,  plain 
"  pudding,  and  minced  pies  " — he  could  fo  grievouily  have  mifconceived 
the  condition  of  the  Army  in  his  vicinity.  As  Mr.  William  B.  Reed 
juftly  obferves,  "  the  fufferings  of  the  Americans  during  their  winter  canton- 
"  ment  at  the  Valley  Forge  have  been  often  defcribed.  They  have  never 
"  been  exaggerated."  Yet  in  the  end  of  December,  1777,  after  noticing 

Howe's 


184  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

Howe's  movements,  a  Pennfylvania  Whig  remarks :  **  All  this  is  done  in 
"  the  view  of  our  Generals  and  our  army,  who  are  carelefs  of  us,  but  care- 
"  fully  confulting  where  they  mail  go  to  fpend  the  winter  in  jollity,  gaming 
"  and  caroufing.  O  tell  not  this  in  France  or  Spain !  Publifh  it  not  in 
"  the  ftreets  of  London,  Liverpool  or  Briftol,  left  the  uncircumfifed  there 
"  mould  rejoice,  and  fhouting  for  joy,  fay  "  America  is  ours,  for  the 
"  rebels  are  difmayed  and  afraid  to  fight  us  any  longer  !  O  Americans, 
"  where  is  now  your  virtue  ? .  O  Wafhington,  where  is  your  courage  ?" 
In  this  Note,  no  citation  is  made  of  Tory  or  Britifh  accufations  againft 
Wafhington.  One  of  thefe  was,  however,  againft  his  chaftity  :  and  fome 
of  the  charges  went  fo  far  as  to  identify  the  woman  and  to  trace  the  offfpring. 
This  is  only  recurred  to  here,  becaufe  of  a  like  infmuation  being  made 
apparently  by  Charles  Lee,  to  General  Reed,  in  1778;  but  with  great  pro 
priety  the  latter  repelled  as  unworthy  of  credence  the  flanders  that  charged 
the  Commander-in-chief  with  "  great  cruelty  to  his  flaves  in  Virginia,  and 
t(  immorality  of  life,  though  they  acknowledge  it  is  fo  very  fecret  that  it 
"  is  difficult  to  deteft  it." 

In  the  clofe  of  1779,  General  Sullivan  warned  Wafhington  that  the 
Cabal  of  1777  againft  him  ftill  exifted,  and  waited  only  for  fufficient 
ftrength  to  attack  him  openly.  He  therefore  advifes  him  to  keep  on  his 
guard.  "  Appearances  may  deceive  even  an  angel.  Could  you  have 
"  believed,  four  years  ago,  that  thofe  adulators,  thofe  perfons  fo  tenderly 
"  and  fo  friendly  ufed,  as  were  Gates,  Mifflin,  Reed,  and  Tudor,  would 
"  become  your  fecret  and  bitter,  though  unprovoked  enemies.  If  we  view 
"  them  now,  we  cannot  help  lamenting  the  want  of  fincerity  in  mankind." 

But  everything  faid  or  done  during  the  War,  by  Whig  or  Tory,  falls 
far  fhort  of  the  dreadful  charges  brought  againft  Wafhington  by  his 
political  opponents  and  fellow-citizens  in  1795,  1796,  and  1797.  Com 
pared  with  the  language  of  Valerius,  Pittacbus,  A  Calm  Qbferver,  &c., 
former  fcurrility  almoft  became  praife.  Every  variety  of  evil,  from 
avarice  and  fraud  to  tyranny  and  murder,  was  imputed  to  his  hands, 
with  a  power  of  conception  and  expreffion  that  leaves  us  no  room  to 

wonder 


of  Stanjbury  and  Ode II.  185 

wonder  that  he  mould  have  difdained  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  a  third  preli- 
dential  term ;  that  "  he  prudently  retreated,"  to  quote  the  remark  of  his 
fucceflbr.  "  Will  not  the  world  be  led  to  conclude,"  fays  one,  "  that  the 
"  mafk  of  political  hypocrify  has  been  alike  worn  by  a  Caefar,  a  Crom- 
"  well  and  a  Walhington  I"  "  Had  the  meridian  blaze  of  the  Prefident's 
"  popularity  continued  much  longer,"  writes  another,  "  the  lamp  of 
"  American  liberty  would  have  been  extinguifhed  forever.  Happily  for 
"  humanity,  a  change  has  taken  place  before  it  was  too  late,  and  the  con- 
"  fecrated  ermine  of  prefidential  Chaftity  feems  too  foul  for  time  itfelf  to 
"  bleach."  In  the  Philadelphia  Aurora,  a  paper  edited  with  deteftable 
ability,  will  be  found  fcores  of  pieces  of  a  like  nature.  What  can  be 
more  lamentable  than  fuch  lines  as  thefe,  publifhed  at  the  very  epoch 
(March  4th,  1797)  of  Wamington's  withdrawal  to  private  life?  "  'Lord, 
"  letteft  now  thy  fervant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  feen  thy 
"  falvation,'  was  the  pious  ejaculation  of  a  man  who  beheld  a  flood  of 
"  happinefs  naming  in  upon  mankind.  If  ever  there  was  a  time,  that 
"  would  licenfe  the  reiteration  of  the  exclamation,  that  time  is  now 
• '  arrived :  for  the  man  who  is  the  fource  of  all  the  miffortunes  of  our 
f(  country,  is  this  day  reduced  to  a  level  with  his  fellow-citizens,  and  is 
•'  no  longer  pofleflcd  of  a  power  to  multiply  evil  upon  the  United  States. 
"If  ever  there  was  a  period  for  rejoicing,  this  is  the  moment.  Every 
ft  heart  in  unifon  with  the  freedom  and  happinefs  of  the  people,  ought  to 
"  beat  high  with  exultation  that  the  name  of  Wafhington  from  this  day 
t(  ceafes  to  give  a  currency  to  political  iniquity,  and  to  legalize  corrup- 
((  tion-^-a  new  asra  is  now  opening  upon  us,  an  aera  which  promifes  much 
f f  to  the  people ;  for  public  meafures  muft  now  Hand  upon  their  own 
"  merits,  and  nefarious  projects  can  no  longer  be  fupported  by  a  name. 
"  When  a  retrofpeft  is  taken  of  the  Wafhingtonian  adminiftration  for  eight 
"  years,  it  is  a  fubjeft  of  the  greateft  aftonimment,  that  a  fmgle  individual 
"  mould  have  cankered  the  principles  of  republicanism  in  an  enlightened 
"  people,  juft  emerged  from  the  gulf  of  defpotifm,  and  mould  have  carried 
"  his  defigns  againft  public  liberty  fo  far,  as  to  have  put  in  jeopardy  its 

"  very 


1 86  Notes  to  the  Loyal  Verfes 

ff  very  exiftence :  fuch,  however,  are  the  facts,  and  with  thefe  flaring  us 
"  in  the  face,  this  day  ought  to  be  a  jubilee  in  the  United  States."  In 
1813,  John  Adams,  writing  to  JefFerfon,  refers  to  "  the  terrorifm  excited 
"  by  Genet,  in  1793,  when  10,000  people  in  the  ftreets  of  Philadelphia, 
"  day  after  day,  threatened  to  drag  Wamington  out  of  his  houfe,  and 
"  effect  a  revolution  in  the  government,  or  compel  it  to  declare  war  in 
"  favor  of  the  French  revolution  and  againft  England.  The  cooleft  and 
<f  the  firmeft  minds,  even  among  the  Quakers  in  Philadelphia,  have  given 
"  their  opinions  to  me,  that  nothing  but  the  yellow  fever,  which  removed 
"  Dr.  Hutchinfon  and  Jonathan  Dickinfon  Sergeant  from  this  world, 
"  could  have  faved  the  United  States  from  a  fatal  revolution  of  govern- 
"  ment."  But  Adams's  morbid  jealoufy  of  every  one  whofe  fame  out- 
fhone  or  even  (in  his  own  opinion)  rivalled  his  own,  cankers  very  many  of 
his  judgments  on  Wafhington.  While  Prefident  himfelf,  he  complained 
that  he  was  annoyed  by  "  puppets,  danced  upon  the  wires  of  two  jugglers 
"  behind  the  fcenes;  and  thefe  jugglers  were  Hamilton  and  Wamington." 
In  another  and  (as  believed)  unpublifhed  manufcript,  he  fays  (Aug.  23rd, 
1806):  "  The  Federalifts,  as  they  are  called  by  themfelves  and  their 
"  enemies,  have  done  themfelves  and  their  country  incalculable  injury  by 
"  making  Wamington  their  political,  religious,  and  even  moral  pope,  and 
"  afcribing  every  thing  to  him.  Hancock,  Samuel  Adams,  —  — ,  and 
"  fcvcral  others  have  been  much  more  eflbntial  characters  to  America,  than 
"  Wafhington.  Another  character,  almoft  forgotten,  of  more  importance 
"  than  any  of  them  all,  was  James  Otis.  It  is  to  offend  againft  Eternal 
"  juftice  to  give  to  one,  as  this  people  do,  the  merits  of  fo  many.  It  is 
"  an  effectual  extinguimer  of  all  patriotifm  and  all  public  virtue,  and 
"  throws  the  nation  entirely  into  the  hands  of  intrigue.  You  lament  the 
"  growth  of  corruption  very  juftly ;  but  there  is  none  more  poifonous 
"  than  the  eternal  puffing  and  trumpetting  of  Wamington  and  Franklin, 
"  and  the  inceflant  abufe  of  the  real  Fathers  of  the  country." 

Defpite  all   that  has  been    faid  too    of  Mr.  Jefferfon's    relations  with 
Wamington,  it  is  difficult  to  hold   that  thefe   really  could  have  been  of  a 

perfectly 


of  Stan/bury  and  OdelL  187 

perfectly  fmcere  and  friendly  nature".  It  was  believed  in  Wafhington's 
family  that  fhortly  before  his  death  he  opened  his  mind  very  plainly  to 
Mr.  Jefferfon,  in  two  or  three  letters.  A  gentleman,  who  was  Wafhington's 
confidential  clerk  at  the  time,  gives  us  fome  idea  of  their  nature ;  for  neither 
letters  nor  copies  long  continued  in  exiilence  after  their  writer  was  dead. 
"  The  firft  was/'  he  faid,  "  rather  a  letter  of  inquiry ;  the  fecond  one 
"  was  fo  fevere,  and  excited  his  feelings  fo  much,  that  the  hair  appeared 
"  to  rife  on  his  head  as  he  recorded  it,  and  he  felt  that  it  muft  produce  a 
"  duel — *that  the  third  was  of  a  milder  tone,  but  not  a  very  gratifying 
"  one." 

It  is  not,  at  this  day,  too  much  to  fay,  that  the  common  fuffrage  of  all 
that  is  wife  and  good  in  human  nature,  authorizes  us  to  queftion  that 
man's  foundnefs  of  judgment  or  rectitude  of  purpofe,  who  impugns  the 
character  of  George  Wajhington* 


INDEX 


ABERCROMBIE,  Rev.  James, 
6. 

Achilles,  xi. 
Adams,  Charles  F.,  177. 

John,  102,  113,  121,  122, 
123,124,136,139,143, 
149, 159, 162,163,164, 
177,178,179,180,185, 
1 86. 

on  the  Howes,  139. 
on  the   Penniylvania  Con- 

ftitution,    121. 
on  the  Quakers,   123,  124. 
on  Dr.  W.  Smith,  143. 
nominates  Wamington>  177, 

178. 
fentiments    towards  Wafli- 

ihgton,  185,  1 8 6. 
Samuel,   113,  149,  162,  177, 

178,  181,  182,  186. 
faid  to  oppofe  Wafhington, 

177,  181,  182. 
denies  it,    182. 
threatened  by  army,  1 8 1 . 
Agincourt,  2. 
Alcides,  24,  25. 
Alcmene  (frigate),  170. 
Alexandria,  162. 
Amboy,  137. 

Americanifms,  36,  39,  157. 
Andre,  Major  John,  115. 
Andromeda,  54. 
Annapolis,   160. 
Anfon,  Lord,  62. 


Arbuthnot,  Dr.  John,    173. 

Adm.  Mariot,  66,  82,   136, 

'73.  174- 
notice  of,    173. 

Armitage,  B,,   117. 

Arnold,   Benedict,    40,    79,    1 1 8, 

156, 159,  171,  175. 
book  attributed  to,  171. 
Aflembly  balls,  160. 
Aflraea,   24. 
Aurora,  denounces  Walhington,  185. 

T>  AILEY,  Francis,  99. 
*^  Bank  of  Pennfylvania,  157. 
Banks,  Sir  Jofeph,    113. 
Bar,  confederates  of,    173. 
Bayard,  James  A.,  156. 

John,  39,  43,  156. 
Baylor's  dragoons,    154. 
Beaufort,  Cardinal,  xiii. 
Beaumarchais,  176. 
Beck,  Paul,   155. 
Bcllona,  9,  63. 
Benezet,  Mr.,   155. 
Biddle,  Edward,  wifhes  Walhington 

for  king,    179. 
Bingham,  William,  158. 
Blake,  Adm.  Robert,  62. 

Brag, ,   158. 

Brandy  wine,  134,  138,  171. 

anecdote  of,   171. 
Bradford,  Wm.,   152. 
Bray,  John,    162. 

Vicar  of,  86. 


190 


Index. 


Britifh  fuccefs  in  1759,   18,,  130. 
Browne,  Sir  Thomas,  xi. 
Brunfwick,    137. 
Bryan,  George,  43,  118,  122. 

notice  of,    164. 
Bull,  John,   139. 

Col.  John,  42,  162. 
Bunker-hill,   134. 
Bunyan,  John,  xiv. 
Burd,  Mr.,   155. 
Burgoyne,  Sir  John,   25,   36,    68, 

138,  147. 

Burgoyne's  defeat,    160. 
Burke,  Edmund,  83,  176. 

(of  America),   182. 
Burleigh,  Lord,  4. 
Burlington,  7,  9,  39,  169. 
Burne,  the  barber,    159. 
Byron,  Admiral  John,    176. 

CABAL  againft  Wafhington,  1 80, 
182. 

Cadwalader,  Gen.  John,   122. 
Camillo  Querno,    105. 
Qefar,  2,  141,  185. 
Campaign,  the  fuccefs  of  the,    1 60. 
Campbell,  George,   155* 

Captain,    155. 
Canada,    130,  140. 
Cannon,  James,  122. 
Carliflc,  Earl  of,    165. 
Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  84,  140,  141. 
Carpenter's  Hall,  61,  155. 
Gary,  Mr.,  113. 
Cato,   34. 

Chalmers,  George,   136. 
Chambers,  Colonel,    155. 
Chambly,   7. 
Charles  Firft,  x. 

Second,  29,  30,  81. 
Charlotte,  Queen,  14,  116. 
Chaftellux,  M.  de,  160,  169,  174. 


Chew,  Benjamin,   125,  138. 
Chubb,  R.,    14. 
Church-and-King  club,   147. 
Cleves,  letter  from,  166. 
Clinton,  Sir  Henry,   63,  66,  67, 
77,  79,82,  114,  138,141, 
171,  174. 

private  comments  on  Howe, 

138  ;  on  Arbuthnot,  174. 
Clinton's  Retreat,    160. 
Clymer,  Daniel,    155. 

George,   155. 

Cobbett,  William,    101,  121,  164. 
Cocytus,   73. 

Coffin,  Mr.  17,  18,  129,  139. 
Coghlan,  Mrs.  Margaret,   171. 
Coldfpring,  9. 
Collins,  Mrs.,  98. 
Congrefs,  36,  143,  144,  165,  169, 

1 80. 
Conftitution  of  Pennfylvania,  122, 

124,  158. 
Conway,  Marfhal,  144. 

Gen.  Thomas,   183. 
Cooper,  Rev.  Dr.  Myles,  105. 

William,    133. 
Cornwallis,  Lord,    138. 
Craft,  Jaines>  115. 
Crefly,   2. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  x,  134,  185. 
Cufhing,  Thomas,   177,  178. 

~T)ANA,  Francis,   166. 

*-'  Daftouche,  Adm.,  82. 

De  Berdt,  Denis,  134,  137. 

De  Graffe,  Count,    157. 

De  Lancey,  Mrs.,  lines  by,  172. 

Delaney,  Sharpe,  155. 

Delight  ((hip),  157. 

D'Eftaing,  M.,  45,  50,  51,  53,  56, 

168,  170. 
D'Eftouches,  M.,  82,  176. 


Index. 


De  Ruyter,  Capt.,  145. 
Dickinfon,  John,   152. 
Dipfodes,  the,  169. 
Drake,  Sir  Francis,  62. 
Drayton,  William,    182. 
Dry  den,  xvj. 

Duane,  James,  143,  165,  182. 
Duer,  William,   166,  180,  182. 
Duffield,  Edward,    148,  160,  164. 

Rev.  George,  47,  169. 
Dumas,  C.  G.  F.,    167. 
Duncan,  Captain,  176. 
Dunlap,  William,   180. 

pAGLE(fhip),   176. 
"  Eden,  William,    165. 
Edinburgh,   139. 
Elizabeth,  Queen,  4. 
Eloifa,    109. 
Emlen,  Samuel,   162. 
Experiment,  the,  35,   146. 
captured,    145. 

PABRICIUS,  169. 

1     Fallen,  Dr.,  160. 

Fergufon,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  165. 

Firll  City  Troop,    126,  154. 

Fifher,  Jofhua  Francis,  xvi. 

Flatbufti,  72,  174. 

Fletcher,  Andrew,  xii. 

Fooks,  Paul,    117. 

Fothergill,  Dr.,   145. 

Franklin,    Benjamin,    5,  45,    112, 

113,    12.2,     134,    136,    165, 

1 86. 
Arthur  Lee's  opinion  of  him, 

John  Adams  on,  186. 
Howe's    hopes    from,     134, 

136. 

Franklin's  Stove,  authorlhip  of  its 
infcription,  112. 


Fuler,  colonel  L.  V.,   171. 


.      .        HI- 
Gargantua,  169. 

Gates,  Gen.  Horatio,  15,  1 1 8,  1 20, 
147,  157,  183,  184. 

diflikes    Wafhington,    183, 

184. 

Genet,  M.,   186. 
George  III,  7,  9,  13,  75,  77,  80, 

83,  89,  113,  140. 
Gerard,  M.,    168. 
Germain,  Lord  George,  138,  141. 
Germantown,  41,  138,  154,  159. 
Gerry,  Elbridge,    162. 
Geyer,  Cafpar,   104. 
Ghent,   156. 
Gibbon,  Edward,  176. 
Gordon,  Rev,  William,   181,  182. 
Gofhen,  42,  163. 
Grant,  General,  138. 
Grafle,  M.  de,   157. 
Graydon,  Alexander,   122,  183. 
Grayfon,  Colonel,  155. 
Greene,  Gen.  Nath.,   137,  182. 

f-JAMILTON,  Alexander,  133, 
AX        1 86. 

William,  83. 
Hamlet,  xiv. 

Hancock,  John,  126, 177, 178, 186. 
afpires  to  command  the  army, 

177. 

thought  by  Adams  of  more 
account  than  Wafhington, 
1 86. 

Hannibal,  84. 
Hardie,  captain,  41,  160. 
Hardinge.  George,    1 1 6. 
Harrifon,  Benjamin,  165. 
Hawke,  Adm.  Edward,  62. 
Hazen's  regiment,    155. 


192 


Index. 


JAY,  John,  165,  171,  178,  182. 
charged  with  treachery,  165, 
Jay's  Treaty,  158. 
Jefferfon,  Thomas,  182,  186,  187. 
roughly  handled  by  Warn- 

ington,  187. 

Jefuit's  bark,  cargo  captured,  145. 
Job,    164. 
Richard,  earl,  36,  128,  134,     Johnfon,  Thomas,   178. 

135>136>137>  139>I4°>     Johnttone,  Com.  George,  44,  165, 
142,  168,  176.  166. 

confults  Franklin,  134,  136.     Jones,  Dr.  John,    181. 
expefts  to  make  peace,  134,     Jove,   23. 

i35,  '36- 
his  flagfliip,   176. 


Henry,  Patrick,  182. 
Hermes,  24,  25,  142, 
Heffians,  47,  56,  138. 
High-llreet  Ward,  156. 
Hillegas,  Michael,  41,  157,  160. 
Hillfborough,  Lord,    113. 
Hopkinfon,  Francis,  23,  69. 
*,  George  vifcount,   140. 


Judas,  57. 

Jumonville,  M-  de,  176. 


Sir  William,   10,   13,  17,  19,     Juno,  24. 
23,  36,   98,   115,    117, 
118,123,128,129,130,     TV- ILLIGREW,  Thomas,  29. 


JLV 


140,141,142,144,183. 

fufpedled  of  being  fecretly 
concerned  in  trade,  129, 
139,  140. 

his  proclamation,    19,  131. 
Clinton's  criticifms  on  him, 

138.  ^ 

notice  of,  134-142. 
.     his  amours,  23,  25,  141. 
Humphreys,  Daniel,    119. 

James,    13. 
Huntingdon,  Countefs  of,  113,  114, 

115. 

Huntington,  Samuel,  48,  169. 
Hutchinfon,  Dr.  James,  45,   163, 
1 86. 

INDEPENDENCE,  Declaration 
1  of,  14,  116,  136,  137,  153,  179. 
Inglis,  Captain,    157. 
Ingraham,  Edward  D.,  148. 
Irifh  beef,  21,  132. 


Kinfey,  James,  1 34. 


T    A  Belle  Poule  captured,  146. 
*~*  Lafayette,  M.  de,  67,  79,  175, 
Lally,  Count,    170. 
Langdon,  John,  165. 
Languedoc,   168. 
Lanyard,  Jack,  61. 
Lauderdale,  Lord,  171. 
Lawrence,  Thomas,    155. 
Lee,  Arthur,  113,  165. 

Gen.  Charles,  141,  142,  177,, 

182,  183,  184. 
his  opinion  of  Wamington, 

142,  184. 
Mrs.  Charles,  xvi, 
Richard  Henry,  his  enmity  to 
Wafhington  afTerted  and  de 
nied,  182,  183. 
Fort,    137. 

Legal  Paper  Money,    17,  29,  128, 
130,  131,  143. 


Index. 


193 


Morris,    Gouverneur,     166,    180, 

181,  182. 
Lewis,    182. 

Robert,  40,  121,   122,    131, 
151,  152,   153,  155,  157, 
159,  162,  166,  182. 
Samuel  C.,   155. 

Mothe,  M.  Piquet  de  la,  50,  170. 
Mufgrave,  Colonel,  138. 

^APOLEON,  134. 

^    Neptune,  62. 

Le,   176. 

New  England,  1 3  7. 
Newton,  Sir  Ifaac,  5. 

York,  132,  138,  175. 


Legere  frigate  deftroyed,    146. 
Lenox,  Major  David,    154. 
Lewis,  Francis,   180,  182. 
Gen.  Morgan,    180. 
Lincoln,  Gen.  Benjamin,    51,    52, 

57>  173- 

Livingfton,  William,  133, 143,  171. 
Long  Ifland,  134,  137. 
Loring,  Mrs.,  23. 
Loughborough,  Lord,   139. 
Louis  XV,  176. 

XVI,  45,  52. 
Loupgarou,    169. 
Lucifer,   6. 

A/TAG ARONI  privateer,   157. 
-LYA  McClenachan,  Blair,  40,  153, 

J57>  I58-  Nichols,  General,   ice. 

McKean,  Thomas,   41,  157,  161,     Nixorij  johllj  II7.    - 

1 82'  A  r  Norris,  Mifs  Deborah,   1 1 2. 

MLane,  Allan,   155.  North   Lord 

Maitland,  Colonel,   51,   53,    171,     Nottingham        * 

172. 

Mann,  Sir  Horace,  139. 
Marie  Antoinette,  170. 
Mars,  24. 

Marfhall,  Chriftopher,   133,  184. 
Mafon,  the  double,  40. 
Matlack,  Timothy,  42,  43,    161 

164. 

Maurepas,  C6\mt,  165. 
Meafe,  James,  15,  120. 
Mifflin,  John  T.,  155. 

Gen.  Thomas,  154,  182,  184.     Uvld>    l62- 
Minden,  2. 
Mitchell,  Col.  John,  41,  157,  160,      OACA,  William,  182. 

,  £  •»  A         T>~!«,rt.      "D  x^.K^*-*-   r  r**»«n i 


,    Dr.  Jonathan,    verfes 
by,   5,  7,  9,  n,  45,  51,  58, 
105,  106,   108,  1 10,  ii  i. 
notices  of,  xv,  xvii,  105,  106, 

112,    113,    169,    171. 

Mifs  Molly,   1 10. 
O'Duin,  Count,   173. 
Oneidas,   50,  170. 
Otis,  James,   186. 


161. 

Moncrieffe,  Major,   51,  53,  171. 


Paine,  Robert  Treat,    177. 
Paine,  Thomas,    137. 


Montgomery,  Gen.  Richard,  7,29,     Pantagruel,  48,  169. 


144,^171. 

Morgan,  Colonel,  1 26. 
Morris,  Charles  M.,  xvi. 


Paper  money,  41,  149,  150, 

161. 
Paris,  131. 


i94 


Index. 


Parker,  Adm.   Sir  Hyde,  47,  51,     /QUAKERS,   14,  17,  117,  122 


170. 

Pafchall,  Benjamin,  40,  159. 
Patterfon,  Mr.,  157. 
Pemberton,  James,  162. 

John,  162. 

Pendleton,  Edmund,  177,  178, 
Penington,  Edward,  125,  127. 

Ifaac,  125. 
Penn,  William,   125. 
Pcnnyfeather,  land  of,   26. 
Pennfylvania,  bank  of,  157. 

Conftitution    of    1776,    122, 
124,  149,  158. 

its  formation,  122. 

obnoxious  to  many,  122. 
Pepys,  Samuel,  121. 
Perfeus,   54. 
Peters,  Richard,  15,  119,  120. 


>£  123,127,130,144,163,186. 

euebec,  2,  130. 
uerno,  Camillo,  105. 

ID  ABELAIS,  Francis,  169. 

*^   Rattlefnake,  the,   159. 

Reed,  Gen.   Jofeph,   44,  69,  134, 

152,  154,    156,  157,  165, 

1 66,  167,  184. 
is  varioufly  accufed,  44,  156, 

165,  1 66,  184. 
William  B.,  183. 
Regiment,  Lines  on  23rd,  106. 
Reynolds,  John,    162. 
Rivington,  James,  39,  45,  63,  99, 

"57- 

Roberdeau,   Gen.  Daniel,  6,    42, 
151,  156,  162,  163. 


Philadelphia,   95,  129,    130,  131,  Robertfon,  Lieut.  Gen.  James,  175. 

132,  138,   143,  144,  150,  Robertfons,  or  dipt  coins,  174. 

153>  l$6>   !59>  I^2>  l&3>  Robinfon,  Andrew,  155. 

185,  1 86.  Rodney,  Adm.  Lord,  77,  83,  157, 

Aurora    attacks    Wafhington,  Royal  Oak,  the,  8 1,  176. 
185. 


Piercy,  Rev.  William,  6,  113. 

notice  of,  113. 
Pilkington,  Rev.  M.,  34. 
Pindar,  Peter,  xvii,  113,  179. 
Plato,   34. 
Plymouth,  136. 
Poiftiers,  2. 

Poniatowiki,  king  Staniflaus,  175. 
Pope,  Alexander,  108,  173. 

Edith,  1 08. 
Potts,  John,  155. 
Prevoft,  Gen.  Aug.,  51,  53,  54, 

171,  173. 

Price,  Mr.,   17,  18. 
Princeton,   138. 
Proclamation,    131. 
Pulaiki,  Count  Cafimir,  55,  173. 


Rum,  Dr.  Benjamin,  43,  157,  164, 

182. 

Ruftilight,  the,  1 64. 
Ruflel,  Admiral,  62. 

CANDY  Hook,  48rf  137,  168. 
°  Savage,  the,  72,  174. 
Savannah,  51,  53,  170,  172,  173. 
Schaffer,  John,  155. 
Scott,  Sir  Walter,  141. 
Sergeant,  Jonathan  D.,  186. 
Shelah,  the,  72. 
Sherman,  Roger,  178. 
Shippen,  Dr.  Wm.,  182. 
Simcoe,  Col.  John  G.,   141. 
Smith,  Robert,  104. 
William,  104. 


Index. 


J9S 


Smith,  Rev.  William,  29,  1 12,  143. 

Mr.,  33,  103. 
Smyth,  J.  F.  D.,  164. 
Sodom,  43. 
Sproat,  Mr.,  113. 
St.  Andrew,  45. 
St.  Clair,  Gen.  Arthur,  122. 
St.  David,  45. 
St.  Dennis,  45. 

St.  George,  I,  4,  45,  74,  76,  1 02. 
St.  John's,  7,  115. 
St.  Patrick,  45. 
St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  98. 
St.  Tammany,  45,  169. 
Stanfbury,  David,  102. 

Jofeph,  verfes  by,  i,  3,  4,  6, 
10,  13,  14,  16,  17,  19,  20, 
22,  23,25,29,31,33,  34, 
36,  37»38>  39>6l>  63,64, 
66,  68,69,81,83,  84,86, 
88,  89,  90,  95,  100. 

notice  of,  xv.,  95-102,  129, 
130,  131,  142,  143,  156. 

Mrs.,  90,  97. 
Staten  Ifland,   137. 
Stewart,  Charles,   136. 
Stirling,  Gen.  Lord,   180. 
Sturdy  Beggar,  the,   159. 
Succefs  of  the  Campaign,    1 60. 
Sullivan,  Gen.  John,  123,  142,  168, 

170,  184. 
Swift,  Dr.  Jonathan,    173. 

HpAMENUND,  45,  169. 

A     Tarleton,  Col.  Banaftre,  xii, 
Thompfon,  Gen.  Wm.,   155. 
Ticonderoga,    130. 
Titan,  41. 

Tonyn,  Gov.  Patrick,   171. 
Tories,  133,  153,  163,  164,  176. 
Town  Meeting,  the,   148. 
Towne,  Benjamin,  20. 


Trenton,  39,  138. 
Trinity  Church,    171. 
Triton,   72,  174. 
Troop,  Firft  City,  154. 
Tudor,  William,   184. 
Twenty-third    regiment,    welcome 

to,  1 06. 

Twickenham,    108,. 
United  States,  89. 

debt,   149. 
Uther,  ix. 

Tf  ALLEY-FORGE,  l8o,  183. 

Venus,  23,  24,  25. 
Ville  de  Paris,  157,  158. 
Virgil,  162. 

TT7ALLACE,    Sir    James,    35, 

H5- 
Walpole,  Horace,    139. 

Ward,  Gen.  Artemas,    177. 
Warren,  James,  136. 
Warwick,  earl  of,  xvi. 
Wamington,  46,  79,  84,  88,  120, 

125,  133,   136,  138,  139, 

142,  158,  175,  176-187. 
obftacles  to  his  appointment, 

177,  178. 
diftrufted    in    congrefs,    177, 

179,  180,   181,  182,  183, 

184. 

confided  in  by  army,  181, 183. 
defired  as  Emperor,  1 79. 
plan  for  his  arreft,  1 80. 
charged  with  various  offences, 

88,  176,  177,  184. 
John  Adams  on,  136,  186. 
Beaumarchais  on,  176. 
Gates  on,  183. 

Charles  Lee  on,  1 42, 183,1 84. 
Louis  XV  on,  176. 
Philadelphia  Aurora  on,  185 


196 


Index. 


Wafhington,  his  plans  againft  New 

York,  46,  79,  175. 
reviled  by  newfpapers,    184. 
threatened  with  violence,  1 86. 
deterred  from  further  public 

^185. 
his    retirement  welcomed    by 

fome,  185. 
perfons  faid  to  be  holHle  to 

him,   182,  184,  187. 
ftrong  letters  to  Jefferfon,  1 87. 
Wafhington,  fort,   137. 
Watfon,  Elkanah,  114. 

JohnF.,  154,  156,  1 60. 
Watfon's  Annals,  148. 
Wcdderburne,  Alexander,  139. 
Wellington,  140. 
Wells,  R.,  30,  1 01. 


Wharton,  Fifhbourne,  126. 

Thomas,   125. 

Whitefield,  Rev.  George,  114. 
Whitemarfh,  23. 
Will,  William,  41,  160. 
Wilkinfon,  Col.  James,  161. 
Willing,  Richard,  15,  121. 

Thomas,   15,  121,  142,  143. 
Wilfon,  James,  143,  153,  155,  156. 

threatened  with  violence,  153. 
Wiftar,  William,  40,  159. 
Witherfpoon,  Rev.  John,   182. 
Wolcot,  John,  xvii,  113,  1  16,  179. 
Waxall,  Sir  Nathaniel,    140. 
Wright,  Abijah,  104. 


,  Judge  Jafper,  112. 
York,  duke  of,   171  . 


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